<p>I find traditional graduations somewhat lacking so in addition have decided to create a private ceremony where we celebrate my son’s transition to college and adulthood. I guess a coming of age ceremony. We will be drawing from many influences. If you have any suggestions, please pass them on. I think there needs to be a father to son element with many of the supportive folks in his life present. A laying of hands sounds good as well as religious stories from many faiths.</p>
<p>You might want to keep in mind that appropriating other peoples’ religious traditions outside their faith context might be offensive to some of your guests if they are believers.</p>
<p>I would also want to check with your son that he is okay with things like laying on of hands.</p>
<p>Just my opinion here…while you may think the graduation ceremony is “lacking”, your son may feel it is just fine. It is, after all, HIS graduation. Also, layering religious traditions and the like onto a secular event like high school graduation just sounds unusual to me. Seems like this might something you should/could do privately with your immediate family…and then enjoy the high school graduation events separately and in the way they are celebrated here in the U.S.</p>
<p>I agree that it sounds like you are trying to mix two different types of events. Agree that you might want to see what your son wants. My s wanted to have a family lunch and then go to all the graduation parties.</p>
<p>I agree; you need to find out if this is something he’s really, REALLY OK with. My D would have run away from home before she would have participated in something like this.</p>
<p>Does your family have a religious tradition of your own? If so, then IMO you should stick to that, without apology. And if you don’t have a tradition, then I’d suggest omitting the spiritual-y stuff altogether. There are plenty of other meaningful ways to mark this important milestone besides borrowing bits and pieces of religious ceremony which aren’t part of your family’s history.</p>
<p>But honestly, I think most teenagers would rather their parents take them out to dinner and deliver a short, awkward, misty-eyed “Honey, we’re really proud of you.” Or perhaps you could take an idea from my brother and SIL. They hosted a dinner for about a dozen of the adults who’d been most important to my nephew. After dinner, each person proposed a toast to the graduate. It was moving, and funny, and I think he felt loved and well-launched by the end.</p>
<p>Just be glad it isn’t a daughter and you aren’t having a “Princess Menses” party like they did on Nip / Tuck. If that wouldn’t send a young woman to therapy for years on end, I don’t know what would.</p>
<p>Not to be blunt, but if someone had tried a “laying of hands” ceremony on me when I graduated high school a few years ago, I would have been super creeped out. </p>
<p>IMO, the sending off the college is enough of a “ceremony” to mark the distinction between high school and college. If your son isn’t religious (which it doesn’t sound like he is since you want to pull from multiple different faiths, but that is just my interpretation) then bringing in religious ceremonies might be really… awkward. </p>
<p>Just have a party, enjoy the ceremony, and be done.</p>
<p>Yes, I would run everything past your son. This sounds kind of embarrasing. A traditional religious ceremony is different - if it is actually is your own religion. I’d go with the beer pong.</p>