I guess I could enjoy the graduation ceremony for a home schooled kid. first mom speaks, followed by dad and the younger sister calls the one student (who is handed a diploma printed from Microsoft word). we move from the family room to the kitchen and eat those little hot dogs in a blanket.
I am try to make plans and bookings for dd’s graduation in May 2018. She is my only child and for my parents it will be their first grandchild’s college graduation. (all the other ones are much younger) My siblings are all over the U.S. and if they wanted to come they would have to book flights in advance or drive. Every year the graduation is livestreamed and later put on youtube. My parents have attended graduations for five of their kids. (high school, bachelor’s, master’s) That’s a lot of graduations.
There will be two ceremonies several days apart. One on a Thursday (departmental -smaller ceremony with reception and awards) The main ceremony for the whole graduating class will take place on a Saturday morning.
I know my parents would like to attend but I am concerned that they won’t be able to walk so much and may get worn out. Both ceremonies will take place indoors. My siblings may also like to attend with their families. Both ceremonies do not require any tickets and are open to everyone.
My issue is deciding should I just invite everyone to the smaller dept ceremony on the weekday, invite to both, or just to the main ceremony. If they attend both that would require them to be here for a long weekend and hotel bookings and meal arrangements would need to be organized by me.
For my parents I feel they would enjoy the smaller ceremony more. (college of engineering) There would be awards, and a reception that would be even smaller and more personalized. There are events that will take place all weekend but I need to pick and chose otherwise it maybe overwhelming for everyone. If I include everyone parents and kids it would be about 20 people. Since this is a big school with a big graduating class I feel I should make the hotel bookings now but am not sure for how many days.
I definitely feel I will attend both ceremonies but dd is fine with just attending the dept ceremony. I would like her to attend both as this is my only child and would like to have that memory.
As we left the rainy arena and headed back to our car, people on the street called out congratulations to my son. Just guessing that most of them never went to college. It was a lovely reminder of how fortunate we are.