Graduation Quotes for Your Son, Beyond the Pep Talk

That's my kid up there. I told the whole row.

You did the hard part. I just drove.

I used to lift you up so you could see. Now you're the tall one.

Your name sounded great over that loudspeaker.

You slept through a lot of alarms. Not this one.

Tie's crooked. Everything else is exactly right.

You turned out even better than the plan, and there was never much of a plan.

One diploma, zero doubts from this side of the family.

Go easy on the world, kid. It has no idea what's coming.

You hold doors, you call your grandmother, and you were kind when no one was grading it. That's my favorite diploma.

You used to bring me rocks from the playground like they were treasure. I kept them. I'll keep this day too.

I know you hate it when I cry at these things. Too bad.

You're the only person who can make me laugh while I'm trying to be mad at you. Take that skill everywhere.

I told you to eat a vegetable about nine thousand times. Today I have no notes.

My boy. I'm allowed to say it one more time, in ink, where no one else can see.

You needed me to tie your shoes, and then you needed me to stop. You were right both times.

When you're forty and I'm old and embarrassing, I'll still be telling people about today.

Text me when you get there. I'll be fine. Text me anyway.

I don't have a speech. I have a handshake, a hug and this card, and you get all three.

I spent years yelling 'eye on the ball' from the bleachers. You were usually checking on the kid who fell down.

You're a better man at your age than I was at mine. I hope you beat me by even more.

One day you'll get a flat tire, you'll know exactly what to do, and you'll call me first. I'm counting on that.

I've been teaching you things for years. Lately I've been taking notes.

My dad never said this to me, so I'm putting it in writing: I love you, and I like you too.

Measure twice, tip well, call your mother.

You stopped needing my help with homework around eighth grade. I kept pretending for a while.

Whatever you build next, I'd like to hold the ladder.

You made us parents. Today you made us look like we knew what we were doing.

We've saved your report cards, your art projects and one suspicious tooth. This card goes in the box too.

We got lucky with you. We'd like that on the record.

The house will be quieter. We're told that's supposed to be a good thing.

We taught you to say please and thank you. You figured out the rest, and the rest is the good part.

Our advice fits on this card: be kind, read the lease, come home for Thanksgiving.

Two people have been holding their breath since your first day of school. We can exhale now. Maybe.

Everyone keeps telling us what a great young man you are. We've been agreeing loudly.

Your degree says you can think critically. The dishes say otherwise.

Congratulations on finishing school. Your towel is still on the floor.

You have a diploma, and you still can't find the ketchup in a fridge you've known your whole life.

We're thrilled for you. We also saw the grocery bill without you, and we're thrilled about that too.

Now that you're educated, please explain what you did to the garage.

All that education, and you still put the fork in the microwave.

You're officially a graduate. Your mother is officially getting your parking spot.

You can leave now. We're told that's how this works.

You know where the spare key is. It's not moving.

Your bed will stay made from now on, which is how I'll know you're gone. Come mess it up.

There will be a Sunday when you miss home and feel silly about it. Call on that Sunday.

You'll turn a load of whites pink this year. I want that phone call.

I'm not worried about you out there. That's a lie, but I'm not worried about what you're made of.

Go see what's out there. Bring back stories and maybe your dishes.

The dog's going to wait by the door for a week. So am I.

You took the long way. You also saw more of the road than anybody else in that line.

There was a year I wasn't sure about this day. You never let me say that out loud, and you were right.

You didn't quit when quitting would've made sense to everybody. I noticed.

A lot of people helped, but you're the one who got up on the bad mornings.

Nobody's going to check how long it took. I'll only ever remember that you finished.

Your grandfather would have worn his good hat today. I brought it.