Monday, November 11, 2019

What's Up With The Jostens Senior Year Packet?

Okay, so when my son came home with his senior packet, I might have cried. He was not amused.



It's just, a senior. What? I think you must have the wrong kid. My son can't be a senior. He's only four and loving Blue's Clues and The Wiggles.




Then I checked out the book, or maybe it's a booklet, or maybe it's a packet. I don't know.



I couldn't believe all the options my son had to proclaim he was a senior.



I mean, would you still be wearing this hat in your 40s? (I'm sorry, a BEANIE. And it can be yours for $15.)






Also, what on earth was with all the diploma frames and plaques? You could get a Deluxe Grad Frame ($49), a Tassel Keepsake Frame ($45), a Diploma Plaque ($30), a Diploma Frame ($25), and even an Appreciation Frame ($39.)


For a second I thought I might need these things. I mean, I need to keep this diploma safe. And his tassel! I couldn't lose his tassel. Then again, whatever happened to MY tassel? Hmm.


Then I was all, "What kind of tassel does my son need?" because there isn't just one anymore. Now there's a stacked tassel or a status one. (My son went with the stacked and it looks like this.)


(There's also a mascot, shadow, and souvenir tassel. (Ranging between $17.50-$12.50)





You can also get a mini diploma if you want to act like a giant ($10), and there are so many options for jewelry (bracelets, necklaces, rings...)

I began to worry that I'd have to sell a kidney to pay for it all.




Do people even wear their senior rings after they graduate? My husband got one, and he never wears it.

My son does not want one.

"I'm not wearing a ring," he said, disgusted. (It should be interesting if he gets married.)

Rings are not cheap. But there are many, many to choose from. With many, many different options and each of these options are pricey.




Also, the cap and gown are $40.95, but it comes with a tassel. Many people order one cheaper from Amazon.

Let's not forget the announcements. Of course you need to announce to everyone that your kid is graduating. But do you want a foil border name ($28) or a standard name card? ($23) Do you really need tissue overlays? ($12.50.) Who mails things with tissue overlays? Maybe the Queen?




Oh, and the thank you notes! Must have those if you get a gift. Do you want them foil? Bold? Do you want a picture sticker? ($7) A picture sticker? Yikes! Do we need a picture sticker?

"This is....I'm confused," I admitted to my husband as I flipped through the booklet. "I don't remember all this crap when I graduated. There are shorts that say senior, for God's sake."

He was all, "Just get the cap and gown and call it a day."

But. But. Didn't I need a Diploma Plaque?

Didn't my son want sweats with SENIOR 2020 down the side? (I asked. He didn't.)

In the end I went with the Mascot Package. I get the announcements and thank you cards. I get the cap and gown with the stacked tassel. My son even got senior shirts and a key ring. We didn't go crazy because really, I didn't need a Diploma Plaque. My son didn't want undergarments with SENIOR 2020 all over them.

So relax. It'll be okay. You don't need it all. If your kid wants it all, it's okay to say no. Remind them that when they are 40, the odds of them wanting to walk around with a SENIOR 2020 beanie are slim to none.

But still.

You might tear up. You might keep hugging your senior and going, "What happened? Weren't you just FOUR?"




It'll be okay.

It'll be okay.

It'll be okay.

(But there will be tears.)







58 comments:

  1. Congrats to your son on his upcoming graduation. When I left high school there was nothing like this. My university graduation wasn't even that special.

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  2. Wow lots has changed since I graduated way back when. Congrats to your kiddo!

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  3. Congrats to your son. It's amazing at how many things they try to get you to purchase during your last year of high school.

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  4. Time flies so fast! Congrats to your son! It's crazy how much graduation costs are now.

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  5. Beautiful post on how our kids grow up soooo fast! And it looks like Jostens gets more commercial every year. Maybe people actually do order that stuff, lol! As for our house, nobody even wanted a ring, which in my day was standard for everybody. And now I don't wear it and haven't for many years. My girls actually chose rings from a jewelry store for their 16 birthdays instead and liked the style they chose more than a class ring. And my boys didn't even want to talk about any of it. They were so much more about moving on!

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  6. I was excited to read this post and the joy for your son's goal is mine!

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  7. Woah I had no idea you could get this sort of thing for your last year of school. We didn’t do anything over here when we finished, bar perhaps signing each other’s shirts and burning our ties. I’m not sure about now though.

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  8. Graduation is expensive. My son needed way too many sashes for all his awards and that was costly.

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  9. This is such a beautiful post. My son just entered into his junior year. I can totally relate to this.

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  10. I have heard numerous horror stories about the cost of senior year. My oldest is a sophomore and I'm still in shock after paying $90 for a yearbook!

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  11. Congrats on his last year, but I really can't believe how expensive it could get

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  12. Congrats to senior year!! Definitely easy to get sucked into the graduation supply store :)

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  13. Congratulations to your son! Graduation is exciting, but there are so many expenses that start to stack up. I had no idea there were so many items for purchase in the Jostens packet. I find it hard to believe that anyone would want a beanie that says SENIOR in large print (you might wear it for a couple of months, and THEN what?!)...but I could be wrong!

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  14. I remember all of those high-cost items! I'd say rent the gown, and buy the cap and tassle. No frame, no ring, or any of that other stuff. Invest in some great senior photos. In another 4 short years your son will receive another packet like this from his university. Decisions all over again!

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  15. This gave me feels because my son is ACTUALLY turning four in a couple weeks, and I know his senior packet will be here before I know it. Gah!

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  16. Yes, there will be a lot of tears for sure! I can't believe there are a lot of things they offer!

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  17. Congrats to your son. I seriously had no idea that it can get so expensive. Wow~!

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  18. big day for you! one you will remember forever!

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  19. Congrats to your son! That is always such a big day. I agree that some of those products are ridiculous too. It can certainly add up quickly and be really expensive.

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  20. There is always someone making money over something.
    Don't buy too much of that nonsense.
    I actually still own (and wear) a hoodie I bought at jr college 20 years ago.

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  21. This is ridiculous, do you really have to buy all that? When I finished uni we simply rented the gowns and capes and then gave them back after the ceremony. My diploma is actually still at my uni, haha.

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  22. I know these feelings all to well.. X2.. So glad I don't have to worry about any of this anymore! Congrats on the graduation and you'll get through it mama! We always do! lol Kelli A

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  23. These pictures perfectly capture the emotions of having a senior! My son wasn’t into his senior year as much as I was. Lol.

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  24. Congrats on your son's upcoming graduation. I did a couple years ago and now I'm in the university seeking for a degree.

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  25. Senior years are coming up quickly here, and so I can understand your feelings! I'm happy but sad at the same time thinking of how the senior years are around the corner for my oldest.

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  26. Congratulations for your son's upcoming graduation. It was so interesting to see the products featured in your post.

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  27. Senior year is such a big one. I hope he enjoys it and it doesn't send you into bankruptcy. (Rena)

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  28. Oh gosh, yes! My firstborn is a senior this year. It's so surreal, bittersweet reall. I do agree the packages for photos have a lot of other stuff in them, like what. Congrats to your senior!

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  29. Oh my goodness! First off, I remember those rings and those catalogues! People made such a huge deal over them during senior year. But I absolutely love your message here mama! I agree with all of your points!

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  30. I feel so much guilt not buying all the things. But there's nothing that they actually need or will use past senior year. What they should do is make branded tissues for all of the mamas out there dealing with their kids growing up.

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  31. There are always so many things that come home from school to BUY BUY BUY! Even for middle school yearbooks, you can get an engraved name plate for it.. what??! I stick with the things I know that we will use.

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  32. I remember this time of year. I love that your child is getting ready for his senior year.

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  33. congrats yes times fly so fast, mine is going to middle school next year. I know lot of items you can choose from those packet but it is always pricey.

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  34. Bu durumda ne yapacağını bilmek size yardımcı olacaktır. Evinizin zararlıları tarafından işgal edilmiş bulursanız ne yapacağını öğrenmek için okumaya devam edin.
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  35. Congrats to your son!! Your post had me giggling (love your writing style). My daughter is only 7-months-old and I'm already dreading the day she graduates high school. Lol! That's normal, right?

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  36. We still have a year before our twins graduate and I'm already dreading it.

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  37. Congrats! (Although its 2020). But this post makes me smile :)

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  38. Sounds like you are dealing with a challenging season of life super well. Keep it up!

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  39. Time flies right? :) Congrats! I think when I graduated they offered a class ring and maybe 2 people said yes LOL.

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  40. COngrats on the upcoming graduation! I don't remember all that when I was a senior- we got a gown, hat, tassel, and a class ring and called it a day. lol

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  41. Congrats on your Josten's graduation. I was surprised to read about stuff you have to get before graduating. Maybe just choose the most important ones so that it will affect so much of the family budget.
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  42. There will be tears. There are still tears and my daughter has been out of HS since 2004. No, I did not want to do the math.

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  43. Blues Clues and the Wiggles! That's adorable. I know I'll be emotional when my kids become seniors too. I also don't know where my tassle is and I never bought a class ring either.

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  44. The senior year of high school is such an important milestone event. It is great to find ways to commemorate it and make it special.

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  45. Senior year is such a special time! This packet looks really great! Good luck! :)

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  46. I love the idea that my kids will be four for ever! The time passes by too fast! :)

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  47. oh wow Well firstly congratulations you and your son too for this another biggest achievement..glad you shared such meaningful blog post with us..great work though..

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  48. It is amazing how fast they grow up! With our oldest child we ordered the cap and gown, announcements, and thank you cards, but hardly sent out any. We only got the cap and gown for the other 4.

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  49. I bought a senior ring when I was in high school. That's the only thing I got from the package too. I thought the rest was kinda crazy.

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  50. I remember when I graduated in 2012, being the eldest kid of the family, my parents had all of the same thoughts. I think my mom went with a similar package that you got for your son. I have to say I think I lost my key chain the year after I graduated- and my tassel is well somewhere... Lets just say, my mom just made her own announcements for my little brother and only bought the cap and gown when he graduated.

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  51. It blows my mind that all of this is now 'normal'. When did graduation become such a costly event for families - when I graduated we had the option of a class ring, a 'class of 2004' school shirt and the necessities (cap & gown), but that was it. I can't imagine how much money some parents are feeling pressured to spend!
    That aside, congratulations to your Senior! I'm sure he's excited to celebrate.

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  52. Congrats!!! so crazy how fast everyone grows up!!!! grad was even costly when I graduated

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  53. oh my, now I just found another reason why I am glad that I homeschooled my now grown children! That stuff is expensive, never thought of having to choose between tassels, that sounds a little ridiculous to me, lol. Great post, you made me chuckle. Blessings!

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  54. Congrats. Yes stuff are expensive, lot of photo session, souviner are actually money draining mechanism.

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  55. This is awesome! We had none of this stuff for graduating even in college. I always love how schools in America go all out for graduates where as over here they just send you off into the big bad world.

    Congrats to your son, by the way!!!

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  56. Congrats to your son! I can't believe how much that costs. I hope my kids are as practical as your son!

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  57. It's crazy how time flies. But yeah... those prices are crazy!!

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  58. Mama Maggie's KitchenAugust 7, 2020 at 9:45 PM

    Congratulations to your son and most especially to you and your husband! He is such a wonderful kid. I can't remember so many things when I graduated though!

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