How do you feel about graduations?

[aTailOf2Kitties]

there is no way I would NOT walk across that stage. To me it's the final "I did it!", and a chance for my family and friends to help celebrate my accomplishment. Plus, it's the last time you'll see some of your classmates. Sure you have to sit through a few hours of ceremonies, but you had to sit through countless hours of classes beforehand just to get to this point. After this, it's done. Over. Kaput.

In this case, I think it all boils down to how much everyone wants to keep peace with the in-laws. If you have a good relationship with them and really want to keep it that way, then I would pay the fees for him and call it a "gift" or tell him he can work it off later. Or if he discusses it with them, they can offer to pay the fees instead if it's that important to them.

He's young. He's got plenty of time to live his life, a few hours of well-earned celebration won't cut into it much. However if he flat out refuses it's between him and them.

My sister-in-law has graduated from a couple different schools in the past few years and every time I went to her graduation, it took me back to my own. I really missed all the pomp and ceremony associated with it.

[cassiesmom]

When my oldest niece graduated from college, we went to the ceremony for her academic area (education) but she opted not to participate in the one for the entire university.

My nephew's graduation was a long day. Only one graduation per year so we sat through the honorary doctorates, Ph.D. hoodings and master's candidates for that one minute of seeing him walk across the stage and hear his name called as a bachelor's degree recipient. The family of the graduate before him was making so much noise that we almost missed hearing his name called. We all had supper together afterward, so that was our chance to celebrate his achievement.

[sirrahbed]

I also opted not to walk for both high school and college. For *me*, the ceremony felt silly but I seldom like ceremonies. For college it was VERY expensive. I am not real good about doing what is traditional though

[king2005]

I skipped all 3 of mine & would skip them all in a heart beat again.

I see them as a money grab & a total waste of time. Honestly, what do you get out of it? Besides showing off... Nothing, IMO... Getting the diploma in the mail was good enough for me.

I view weddings the same way. Why do I need to spend thousands of $$ on a party? Sorry, shouldn't my love & me be enough? However I will do the whole wedding thing if the event meant that much to my partner, but I'd still rather not... such a waste of money, IMO. Going to a JP for the tax benefit, is good enough for me.