It may feel like just yesterday that your daughter was born and now she is approaching adulthood. While the ways you celebrate her birthday may have changed over the years, especially as she becomes more independent, you may still want to have some quality family time together to mark the occasion. Rather than planning a traditional birthday party, you could think about some of the things she likes to celebrate the day, as well as ways that you can acknowledge that she is now an adult.

Getting a present for your daughter can be quite a big task, especially when dealing with a milestone birthday. You may want to find something that she can keep, and use, in adulthood, rather than something that will get put into a cupboard and forgotten about. Pearl necklaces from Chisholm Hunter could be a good idea, as these can be used for social events, attending college or university, and even attending any job interviews. She may also be touched that you thought of something that is often associated with maturity and elegance. You could also think about matching items, such as earrings or a bracelet, that she could even pass down to her own children in the future.

You may also want to think about doing something to mark your daughter’s birthday. While you may have previously planned parties for her to invite friends to, now she is 18 she might not want her parents tagging along. Instead, you could opt to spend a bit of time going out for a meal or a few drinks on a separate day to the one she wants to spend with her friends. Due to her now being an adult, you could even choose to go to a childfree pub or restaurant, and even buy her first alcoholic drink. Alternatively, there may be other activities your daughter might prefer, such as a trip to the spa, or even takeout at home. Considering her personality and preferences can be useful here.

If your budget allows, or you have spent time-saving up, you could even give your daughter a grand gesture for her 18th birthday. This could involve a car if she has learned to drive. Alternatively, you may want to opt for a brief holiday with your daughter. Taking a weekend break away could allow you to spend some quality time together and begin to learn to navigate life as adults, rather than with the adult and child hierarchy. This could involve the whole family, or simply some additional mother-daughter bonding time.

One key aspect to note is that you should, ideally, treat all your children the same. This means that, when your eldest daughter reaches 18, you opt for plans that can also be carried out when your other children reach this age. It can also be useful to include any step-children within this thought process, to solidify their position within your family. Reaching 18 can be seen as quite a big deal, therefore you may want to decide on gifts and events that will be significant.