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Next week, Swee'Pea will be graduating from high school with all the usual pomp and circumstance. It is a large class with 500+ graduates, being held at Villanova's gym. I assumed (incorrectly) that this was a mandatory family event, just as it was when Momma and Poppa Turk made us all sit through each other's graduations.

Well, it turns out that I'm getting all sorts of verbal and visual insubordination from the young Turks, which is of course to be expected. Even the youngest, Punkinhead, who has a softball playoff game that night, is giving me a raft of crap about it. I was prepared to throw my (considerable) weight around and pull rank, until Mrs. Turk butted in and said, "Dadgumit, even I don't want to go. It's going to be hot, crowded, and boring. I didn't care who showed up at mine, and I hated that my parents made me go to my siblings' graduations." (OK, she didn't say "Dadgumit", but that's a good word). So then I was all like, "So if one of the kids gets married and it's going to hot, crowded, and boring, the other Turks get to skip it if they want?" And then Mrs. Turk was all like, "That's completely different." And then I was all like, "Of course everyone hates to go. That's exactly the point."

What do you think? Is this a non-event with optional attendance, or is this one of those times we all suck it up and do it anyway?

This isn't one of those made-up-so-some-cap-and-gown-company-can-make-money-off-your-fourth-grader graduations, this is the real deal, and it's a family event. I say everyone goes. Especially if you had to go to their stupid 4th (or whatever grade) "graduation" that didn't mean a hill of beans.

High school graduations are mandatory sibling events. My brothers went to mine and I went to theirs, even when their high schools were out of town. We even went to all of our various college and law school and medical school graduations and hooding events.

I flew Christian across the country for Sam's high school graduation. I had to take him out of school here in North Carolina early for that event.

<vent>Here's who should not be welcome at a high school graduation: ExLax's BimbHo girlfriend and her stiletto shoes and mini skirt. My kids had to physically keep her away from me so that I wouldn't say something to embarrass her.</vent>

High school graduations are a time for family photos with family members surrounding the cap and gown-wearing graduate. Yes, they are hot and boring and tedious, but the photos are nice for the graduate to have to look back on.

This December, when they ask why you didn't buy anyone Christmas presents, explain that "it's not like graduation, this thing comes around every year..it is a pain in my ass but I'll do it next time."

Dadgumit... for a moment there, I thought Mrs. Turk had a mind meld with:

CathyCA wrote:High school graduations are mandatory sibling events. My brothers went to mine and I went to theirs, even when their high schools were out of town. We even went to all of our various college and law school and medical school graduations and hooding events.

I flew Christian across the country for Sam's high school graduation. I had to take him out of school here in North Carolina early for that event.

High school graduations are a time for family photos with family members surrounding the cap and gown-wearing graduate. Yes, they are hot and boring and tedious, but the photos are nice for the graduate to have to look back on.

What CathyCA said. Well, most of it, anyway!

Turk wrote:Next week, Swee'Pea will be graduating from high school with all the usual pomp and circumstance. It is a large class with 500+ graduates, being held at Villanova's gym. I assumed (incorrectly) that this was a mandatory family event, just as it was when Momma and Poppa Turk made us all sit through each other's graduations.

Well, it turns out that I'm getting all sorts of verbal and visual insubordination from the young Turks, which is of course to be expected. Even the youngest, Punkinhead, who has a softball playoff game that night, is giving me a raft of crap about it. I was prepared to throw my (considerable) weight around and pull rank, until Mrs. Turk butted in and said, "Dadgumit, even I don't want to go. It's going to be hot, crowded, and boring. I didn't care who showed up at mine, and I hated that my parents made me go to my siblings' graduations." (OK, she didn't say "Dadgumit", but that's a good word). So then I was all like, "So if one of the kids gets married and it's going to hot, crowded, and boring, the other Turks get to skip it if they want?" And then Mrs. Turk was all like, "That's completely different." And then I was all like, "Of course everyone hates to go. That's exactly the point."

What do you think? Is this a non-event with optional attendance, or is this one of those times we all suck it up and do it anyway?

Punkinhead has the most basis for an argument... but she should go.
Otherwise, the only exceptions to attending are:
1) Two graduations within the family are set for the same time.
2) Major league health issue/medical incapacitation.
3) Presidential/gubernatorial pardon.

Failure to attend will not only receive your wrath, but Swee'Pea will forever have the right to inflict guilt on them during future family gatherings.

Lavabe wrote: 2) Major league health issue/medical incapacitation.

I don't see why Chipper Jones' busted up leg should have any impact.

CameronBornAndBred wrote:

Lavabe wrote: 2) Major league health issue/medical incapacitation.

I don't see why Chipper Jones' busted up leg should have any impact.

SHAME on you, CB&B!
You were supposed to mention MIKE HAMPTON! ;)

I think yes. Attendance is a sign of support/respect.

My oldest niece missed her sister's graduation because she was on a trip to London - actually, it was tied to a college course. That's a reasonable excuse IMO, and it wasn't like she wanted to miss her sister's graduation. Likewise, my older sister missed my graduation because she was at the SWC track meet (she was a member of the Lady Razorback track team). She still feels badly about it to this day.

I agree with everyone. Attendance is mandatory. If you're family isn't going to support you on the good days, you sure as hell won't be able to count on them on your bad days. Okay, probably not necessarily true.

It sucks everyone is going to be hot. But, that's life. We were never promised a rose garden with perfect weather 24/7. I can't even imagine telling my parents I did't want to go to my sister's graduation.

If high school graduation isn't an important milestone, what is important enough for all to attend?

I agree with CathCA and others who noted that high school graduation is an important milestone to be acknowledged and celebrated by all family members. Graduation isn't about being entertained; it's about commemorating an important achievement.

By the way, since it's on the subject, my graduation was in Cameron Indoor. My sister was there.

I agree with everyone else. Families share. It's such an important time for the graduate. Remember yours Turk?

Attendance is mandatory...for all the reasons mentioned. No ifs ands or buts. Tell them to pull up their big girl/boy pants and deal with it.
Graduation is a major life milestone, and you don't skip those.

Even though I have no siblings, I will weigh in.

Attendance IS mandatory. Of course no one wants to be hot and bored, but that's what graduations are all about. (I didn't wear anything but underwear and a robe to Wally Wade in 1991, but that's another story.) Family events are not to be missed by other members of the family absent some very important reason to the contrary. Tell the young Turks they will graduate sometime, and deep-down, they would be really hurt if an older Turk didn't show just because they don't want to.

lawgrad91 wrote:I didn't wear anything but underwear and a robe to Wally Wade in 1991, but that's another story.

Now you're just bragging! And you've got to tell us "the rest of the story"!

OZZIE4DUKE wrote:

lawgrad91 wrote:I didn't wear anything but underwear and a robe to Wally Wade in 1991, but that's another story.

Now you're just bragging! And you've got to tell us "the rest of the story"!

You wouldn't believe the number of Sunday mornings that I only wore underwear and a robe in Duke Chapel.

And from Iowa....gotta go - the whole fam damily - hot, boring or not! It's the law in this state!

CathyCA wrote:

OZZIE4DUKE wrote:

lawgrad91 wrote:I didn't wear anything but underwear and a robe to Wally Wade in 1991, but that's another story.

Now you're just bragging! And you've got to tell us "the rest of the story"!

You wouldn't believe the number of Sunday mornings that I only wore underwear and a robe in Duke Chapel.