You want to scream it from the rooftops. You’re finally graduating and you’ll never have to sit through Calculus again. However, when your mom brings the graduation announcements up you feel a bit uncertain. Isn’t that kind of tacky? Won’t everyone just think you are just after a gift? Actually, letting everyone know they don’t need to feel obligated to send a gift when they receive an announcement is fairly simple. Just tell them. Try one of these ideas for getting the message across:

1. A hug and your sincere congratulations are the only gifts I need.
2. Please feel free to give me your valuable advice as I prepare for college.
3. I like presents as much as the next person, but this is not a thinly veiled request for gifts. I just want you to celebrate my achievement with me.
4. Want to give me a graduation gift? Great! Don’t want to give me a graduation gift? Great! However, feeling excited over my good news is mandatory!
5. Instead of sending me graduation gifts, please give a small contribution to Books for Kids or your favorite literacy or school related charity. I want everyone to be able to feel the same sense of accomplishment I feel.