@monkeym24 I think this has always been a thing you maybe just don’t remember. I recall celebrating graduation from Jr high and high school. I’m sure there was a kindy ceremony too.
Anyone else want to go back to 1992 when every single grade didn’t have a “graduation” ceremony?
- Thread starter monkeym24
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hawkeyeonme
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@monkeym24 Man, people just don't like to have fun anymore lol. If you don't want to do it just don't go! But let others be happy and have fun.
@hawkeyeonme I wish it was that simple. Opting out isn’t as easy as it sounds if it requires the parent to stay home for the day with the child or you send the child to school but then you are the only parent who isn’t there and your child is sad. Or you decide not to spend the $30 on whatever special attire is required and then your kid feels like an outcast.
Opting out isn’t easy! But participation in all of these back to back special events that are all right in the middle of the work day (and many require special attire that costs money) isn’t easy for many families.
Opting out isn’t easy! But participation in all of these back to back special events that are all right in the middle of the work day (and many require special attire that costs money) isn’t easy for many families.
hawkeyeonme
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@monkeym24 Okay, but I don't think the solution is to just not celebrate milestones. Sometimes things will be inconvenient for you, and that's life.
@hawkeyeonme Sure, life is sometimes inconvenient. But there has to be some reasonable limit on how many of these special themed events schools have on a Tuesday at 10 AM that they ask parents to come to and/or spend money for special attire. In my opinion, the pendulum has swung too far in one direction probably in correlation with the culture of posting every special life event on Instagram.
hawkeyeonme
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@monkeym24 It must vary by area, we haven't had that many that we've had to go to yet. And we haven't had to buy any special attire. For spirit weeks if we don't have something that works we just don't do that day. We are not asked to buy cap and gown for graduation either.
plentyofpaper
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@monkeym24 Was just having this same thought!! I know graduation “ceremonies” at different stages have been happening since I was a kid in the 90s. I remember going to my brother’s pre-k graduation. We definitely had 8th grade graduation when I was a teen…but we didn’t have caps and gowns. I think that’s the thing that irks me. Sure, have a gathering and celebrate a milestone. But caps and gowns should be reserved for actual graduation.
chrisitanmom
New member
@monkeym24 Yeah all the “graduations” kill me. Try doing all them with 4 kids.
theycallmejt
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@chrisitanmom Or 5. Grouchy here, too!
jesusistheefaith
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@monkeym24 Our district doesn’t have kindergarten or middle school graduations and people get so mad about it every year!
I agree silly to no reuse the gowns. Schools are weird probably no storage or something
I agree silly to no reuse the gowns. Schools are weird probably no storage or something
kexowuxuvona
New member
@monkeym24 I don’t know if anyone here listens to Heather McMahan but she has a hilarious clip about this from her podcast on Instagram; last week, I think.
@kexowuxuvona She is hilarious. I’m going to have to go find that clip.
kexowuxuvona
New member
@monkeym24 It’s amazing! Report back when you find it 
kexowuxuvona
New member
@monkeym24 It’s the one from May 30!
@monkeym24 My kid’s school ends at 3rd grade; it’s a private school and they celebrate everything. They graduated the 3rd graders, kindergarteners, and 4 year olds leaving the pre-k program together (like 15 kids). My child wasn’t part of it so I didn’t go. But they didn’t do caps and gowns, thankfully. They did a short ceremony, pics with the graduates and their family members that were emailed to them later, and everyone in the school had cupcakes. I’m glad they combined it all into one and kept it low-key.
andrewandrew
New member
@monkeym24 I was literally just thinking this the other day. My kid is still in Prek so I haven’t had these yet but my Facebook feed has been littered with K, 1, 2, 5 and 8th grade ceremonies. It’s too much.
@monkeym24 I really dislike these end of year celebrations because it's hard for me to attend without it impacting work. I had to take time off last and again this week.
My options are....make my kid happy and piss off my manager or make my kid sad and don't impact my work.
My options are....make my kid happy and piss off my manager or make my kid sad and don't impact my work.
@monkeym24 I was born in 88 and had a fifth, eighth, and high school graduation, but only had a cap and gown for high school.
giftedmikki
New member
@monkeym24 My kids have had no graduation ceremonies through 5th grade. One of them is going to middle school next year , no ceremony
@monkeym24 I think we spent somewhere around $300 on the preschool graduation this year between the $75 fee, the donut and carwash fundraisers, the mandatory plain white tennis shoes she had to wear, and the professional photos. I complained to anyone who would listen.
I gotta hand it to the school for their creativity and heart though - they put on a great show and everyone had an amazing time. There were dances, songs, slideshows, goodie bags, snacks, and “diplomas” with each kid’s photo on them. I know they meant well, but I don’t understand how some families were able to pay for everything. The kids would have been happy with a much smaller affair.
I gotta hand it to the school for their creativity and heart though - they put on a great show and everyone had an amazing time. There were dances, songs, slideshows, goodie bags, snacks, and “diplomas” with each kid’s photo on them. I know they meant well, but I don’t understand how some families were able to pay for everything. The kids would have been happy with a much smaller affair.