Turning 18/21

[Trakehner]

When you turned 18 or 21 did your parents give you any special gifts? If you have children will you give them anything special when they turn 18 or 21?

[Ara T.]

For my 18th birthday and high school graduation present I got a 400 dollar check from my father which I thought was very generous.

[t walgamuth]

when i graduated hs i seem to remember mom taking me to sears to buy for me a navy blue suit.

when i turned 21 i was married and self sufficient and may have gotten a cake and a happy birthday.

as one of eight kids with folks who did not have high payinng professions not a lot of fuss was made over any one of us.

we did get a lot of encouragement and love. and dad used to say we could be anything we wanted. this last thing resulted in a humourous incident. my youngest sis was tucking one of her kids into bed once and asked them (the kid was young) what she wanted to be when she grew up. she said a puppy. my sis said "what?" "what ever made you say that?" the child said grandpa said i could be whatever i wanted and i love puppies so that is what i want to be.

tom w

[Stoneseller]

When I turned 18 my Dad started collecting rent from me

[Botnst]

At 18 yrs I got a 4 year cruise.

[t walgamuth]

not much fuss there either, i see.

tom w

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by Trakehner

When you turned 18 or 21 did your parents give you any special gifts? If you have children will you give them anything special when they turn 18 or 21?

Some beer on both occasions.

Despite having the means, my father wasn't one to just give us anything just as his father was with him. If we wanted something it was up to us to pay for at least the majority of it. At 16 he did buy me a plain-Jane 2WD '79 F-150 with rust holes in the bed figuring I couldn't get myself into trouble with it with the stipulation that I had a job after school whenever I didn't have practice and put gas in it. I'm from a fairly affluent town so it kind of sucked having to drive my beater around while there were some entirely too nice cars for a high school kid in the lot. He did pay the insurance until I got my first speeding ticket which took me about 4 months. (My insurance went to $1800/6 mos. for the minimum insurance required)

I understand his reasons and really appreciate them looking back, but I'll probably get my kids a nice car when they graduate (the further they go, the nicer the car). 21 isn't as big a deal. Maybe dinner and adult beverages at a nice restaurant.

[Mistress]

Not alot of fuss made as far as receiving gifts but my step mother always made me feel special and much loved. She helped buy my first car by signing the loan note and I had to pay her back.

[WVOtoGO]

I was away at college for both 18th and 21st B-Days. I’m sure I got a card and a phone call wishing me good ones, both.
As for special gifts - Not that I recall. Just being super parents, and there when/if you need them is more than I could ask for.

[Hatterasguy]

College when I turned 18, and a happy B day when I turned 21.

I don't want gifts, last thing I need is more pointless crap.

[BobK]

When son graduated HS, we bought him some stereo gear. When daughter graduated, she got a laptop (used, but nice). When kids turned 21, we threw them a party. Side note: daughter got falling down drunk at her's and fell down! Leg was out of action for a month.
When I graduated HS, folks threw a party. When I turned 21, they threw another party (any excuse for a get-together). Of course all my friends bought me presents of whatever wine was selling for $1.259 a gallon. Heck, most didn't figure I'd make it to 21.

[benzforlife]

i heard turning 21 isnt all that great....

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by benzforlife

i heard turning 21 isnt all that great....

One of the guys I work with took me drinking the day after I turned 21, it was nice. I went with my lame (we broke up) girlfriend, and she sat their at a really cool bar bored, long story. But I had a good time.

The downside is that now that I am 21 I feel like an old fart.

[A264172]

When I graduated High School, the folks took me out to dinner at a fancy resturant with a view...(what did Tom Wolfe call those upscale 'french' places that are more table cloth and silverware than culinarily elite?) ...it was a nice right of passage.

[Matt L]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

The downside is that now that I am 21 I feel like an old fart.

Rub it in, why don't you.