TOP FIVE GRADUATION GIFT IDEAS

Money – This is the most common and easiest gift to give. It’s an especially great gift if you know the graduate is saving up for something special.

College Bound Gifts – This is a pretty easy gift because most college freshman will be living in a dorm and need things for their dorm room. You could also give a gift with the school’s logo.

Technology – This is a more popular gift idea. Entertainment items like an MP3 player, an iTouch, or a mini netbook computer are very popular.

Experiential Gifts – Traditionally, this is thought of as the trip to Europe or backpacking through the countryside of a European country. It doesn’t necessarily have to be extravagant. For example, Greyhound has a Discover pass program where you buy a ticket that will take you anywhere in the USA for 7 – 30 days.

Memories – This gift helps capture some of the memories of the graduate’s life. It can be a compilation of photographs from throughout the years leading up to graduation or a professional photographic session that allows the graduate’s personality and interests to be reflected through portraits.

Bottom Line: The easiest gift is money. The gift that locks in memories and adds to the graduation experience will be treasured for a lifetime.

(taken from www.socoolgifts.com)

Ten Mistakes Parents Make With Teens

from www.byparents-forparents.com

1. Lecture rather than discuss

2. Ignore the obvious

3. Not following through on rules and consequences

4. Setting unreasonable goals

5. Pointing out only the negative, expecting only the positive

6. Leaving the educating up to "someone else"

7. Giving up on family time because it is too much of a hassle

8. Assume good grades mean no other problems

9. Not taking the time to know what's up with adolescents today

10. Giving up too soon: Forgetting the "three time" rule

For more information and elaboration on each point, see the entire article on the By Parents - For Parents website.

High School Seniors

When it comes to choosing a senior portrait photographer, high school seniors want someone that can capture their real personality.

Gone are the days of the generic yearbook photograph. You know – the fake suit with a bowtie for guys and the drape around the shoulders for girls. Today’s seniors won’t settle for that type of cookie-cutter photo for their yearbook. Now, they like to show a little of their own, unique personality with both formal and casual, serious and sassy portraits.

Photographers that work with high school seniors have to be a lot more creative. It’s such a monumental occasion. That last year of high school needs to be photographically captured in a way that shows the real person. It should include not only the yearbook photograph; but, other photographs that show the senior’s personality and style, hobbies and interests.

At Kenny Barnes Studio, we offer all of this for our high school seniors. The senior can use several different outfits for their studio and outdoor portraits. We can also go to the beach or any other location that is meaningful to the student. We’ve can incorporate musical instruments, sports, pets, and other interests in the portraits. We start with a free consultation to plan the portrait session. That way, we are both prepared for a successful portrait session.

Note: High school senior portraits are usually done this time of year for the rising senior. Most yearbook deadlines are in the Fall of the student’s senior year.

A Job Description for Mom

I saw this job description for the position of Mom. I doubt anyone would take it unless they’ve done this type of job before. God bless our moms!!

Happy Mother's Day!

POSITION: Mom, Mother, Mama

JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.

Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.

Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.

Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.

Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.

Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.

Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.

When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Let’s make sure our moms know how much we appreciate them and all they do for us personally and for our family.

“To a child’s ear, ‘mother’ is magic in any language.” - Arlene Benedict