<p>I wonder if people saw this in the NYTimes. BU invited the entire class of 1970 to graduation this weekend. The class of 1970 did not have their graduation because of the war protests going on at the time and a lot of people were very very disappointed - many enough to never contribute as an alum.</p>
<p>I know we baby-boomers love navel gazing that turns off many millenials (at least it turns off my son), still, I was touched by the picture accompanying the article.</p>
<p>DS made a little noise about going to his big PSU school graduation. Too many kids he said. And a morning ceremony to boot. But I said we were up there…so we expected him to meet us at X time in front of the building. End of story. No problems…although he was a tad late :). And the ceremony was fine…every kids name was called and the speaker was good…he didn’t drone on and he was even funny in spots. </p>
<p>He had no problem going to the the honors ceremony - much smaller with specific honors mentioned for each and every student. Plus it’s been the tradition over the years to hand out gold medals to each student…placed around their necks on stage…pretty cool. Very proud!</p>
<p>Anyway, his long time gf came to both and mentioned to me that she didn’t understand how some students choose not to go…and how some parents don’t seem to care. I like this gf! </p>
<p>To the OP, make the reservations. Tell him you would really LOVE to go to see him achieve this important milestone - and then check back in a few months. </p>
<p>BTW, I made hotel reservations in Jan…and had to stay 45 miles out!</p>
<p>I think the reason that kids should go to graduation is: manners. This is no different from sending a thank-you note after getting a gift. You owe it to your parents (unless they were abusive, etc, etc.) to do this for them. And it’s such a ridiculously small sacrifice for you to make that it seems really churlish to say you don’t want to sit through 2 or 3 hours of boring ceremony. Your mother carried you around for nine months, after all.</p>
<p>I actually used Sesame Street as an argument with D1. She did the early college thing so there was no high school graduation. She was graduating from a small LAC with many honors and distinctions, so it was to be meaningful and memorable. It was like she regressed back to toddlerhood and was trying new foods. I promised she only had to do it once. ONE time. It was lovely, and campus tradition had all profs lining the walkway for the recessional for last hugs and good wishes. I loved it.</p>
<p>She is getting a graduate degree this month…sometime. Maybe it’s already happened but there is no talk at all about going. ONE time was plenty.</p>
<p>“And it’s such a ridiculously small sacrifice for you to make that it seems really churlish to say you don’t want to sit through 2 or 3 hours of boring ceremony. Your mother carried you around for nine months, after all.”</p>
<p>Also, in addition to helping to pay for college and activities that helped kids get into college, most parents have helped kids get to college. It’s not fun helping kids pack and unpack. it’s a lot less fun than is participating in graduation.</p>
<p>Unless, of course, your parents do not have a preference. I love graduations, but after many graduations of children and countless military ceremonies over the years with many more to come, my in-laws were not disappointed when Mr PMK decided to skip his college graduation. </p>
<p>I absolutely agree that if the parents want their student to participate, they should honor that request as it really is such a small thing to do.</p>