Well, here we go again!
Three years ago, a sweet blog reader and client shared one of the best senior-year ideas with me. When her son was a senior, she gave him a gift on the date of his graduation year each month. Each gift was something he would eventually need for college, so over the course of senior year she was simultaneously celebrating him, preparing him to leave home and spreading out the expense of all those college necessities.
I absolutely loved the idea and started 12 Gifts on the 24th with John that August. Over the next year, we covered everything from laundry and first aid supplies to AirTags, tools, bedding and dorm necessities. By the time we moved him to Auburn, we had accumulated SO much of what he needed along the way.
And somehow, impossibly, it is Whit’s turn.
Since he is a member of the Class of 2027, today we officially kicked off 12 Gifts on the 27th!
Class of 2027 – 12 Gifts on the 27th
August: Packing & Moving
September: Laundry
I thought long and hard about what to give him first and ultimately decided there was absolutely no reason to reinvent the wheel. John’s first gift was packing and moving supplies, and after moving that child in and out of a dorm, an apartment and now a fraternity house, I can confirm that this was one of my better ideas.
So, Whit is starting with the very same gift: a foldable dolly and a set of those fabulous moving bags.
I originally chose the bags because they have multiple ways to carry them, zip down the side and can easily hold clothes on hangers. What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was how many times we would use them over the next several years. They’ve hauled John’s belongings back and forth to Auburn countless times, and we use them to store college things between moves too.
The dolly has similarly earned its keep. If the last few years have taught me anything, it is that college involves a surprising amount of moving.
Starting with these also gives us somewhere to begin tucking away Whit’s things as we collect them over the coming months. Where those bags will eventually be headed remains to be seen, which makes this experience a little different from John’s senior year. At this point in John’s process, Auburn was the clear goal and we felt pretty confident that was where he’d land. Whit has a broader list, and we’ll be waiting along with him to see where this next chapter takes him.
For now, though, I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself. Class of 2027, we’re officially underway!
Dixie Delights
travel • home • celebrations • everyday delights
Instagram | Pinterest
Dixie Travels
exceptional vacations • expertly planned
Disney • Universal • Cruises • Luxury Hotels
Start Planning | Learn More
Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Amanda, when did you start touring colleges and how did you decide which one(s) to start with? We had a college tour at my highschool so I was able to narrow down my options. Tripp has no idea where he wants to go or what he wants to do :(
We started mid way through Junior year. He doesn’t have his heart set on anywhere in particular. He’s interested in business and engineering and knew he wanted it to be a reasonable drive. And that’s where we started!
Love this idea so much and have borrowed it for my senior daughter:) Quick question… where do you get your tags printed?
I print them at home :-)
My boys are a year behind each of yours – I borrowed a lot of what you did for John and it was a practical and fun way to celebrate senior year! Looking forward to seeing what else you do for Whit. Time sure does fly.