Graduation ??? Please help me decide!

[tyniknate]

I know you all will help me solve my dilemma. You've never steered me wrong and I know you will have the answer this time, too.

Here's the problem......graduation. The school just notified us that is the weather is good for graduation it will be held outdoors and students can have as many attendees as they want. If the weather is bad graduation will be held indoors and students can only have four people.

Here's the problem..... who do we take with us if the weather is bad? Here are my options:

1. Me, DH, DS14 & DS8. Problem with this option is that if it is held indoors it will be hot and stuffy and totally boring to the boys. Do I make them go and just put up with their boredom? I can potentially see it ruining what should be a great night. Especially with the 8 yr old. Graduations ARE boring and long and it will be hot in the gymnasium with everyone crowded into there.

2. Me, DH & my mom & DH mom. Problems with this option are several. DH mom really has never had much of an interest in the boys. They have only ever spent the night at their house once and that was because we begged and pleaded. I also know, however, that it will cause problems and hurt feelings if she isn't invited. My mom, on the other hand, is devastated if she goes two weeks without seeing her boys. Another problem is that it totally excludes my dad. I don't know if he will mind not being there or not.

3. Me, DH, my mom & my sister. My sister is like a second mother to my boys. Honestly, sometimes I think she ranks higher on their affection scale than I do. It's not unusual for her to call on a Saturday and say "Any of the boys home? Do they wanna go to the movies and have a sleep-over?" She also slips them money when I'm not looking and takes them shopping for back to school stuff, etc. She is definitely the cool aunt. I would hate to not have her there and I think she deserves to be there.

4. Is there another option?

There seems to be no good solution to this. Someone is going to be disappointed no matter what we do.

So, my dis ladies, what would you do?

 

[wdwmickey]

Danielle I feel your pain We only get 2 rain tickets so our decision might be easier (DH or DD1 and me). The grandparents all live locally as do Rachel's Aunts and Uncles so everyone would be able to attend the outdoor venue.

We are praying for nice weather

Good luck with your decision. I'm sure both of my girls would choose option 3. They are only really close with DH's mom (it's a long story). What dos Ty think?

When is graduation? Rachel's is May 23.

 

[Reddy]

first - pray for good weather
second I would call your MIL and see if she really wants to go or if she would rather be at the house with the other boys if the weather is bad - tell her you want her true feelings - let it be her call, let her know you haven't talked to anyone else but you know your sister really wants to go besides your mom
remind her you are praying for good weather so you hope it won't be an issue

tell you to think it over & you will call her back the next night - that really you are just trying to figure it out before the issue so no one would have hurt feelings & you really care about her feelings as well as your sister

 

[tyniknate]

graduation is June 7th

Reddy, I'm absolutely sure if I ask her that she will want to go. She is great about "performing" in public", if you know what I mean. I'm sure if he has the last word on this that he would pick my mom and my sister being there.

I know my sister would be gracious about not going, but I also know it would hurt her terribly. She has been with Tyler and I on most of the college visits, will be co-signing for his loans and will be with us on orientation weekend when Tyler goes for his get-to-know-you weekend. She goes because my DH can't always get off of work and she knows I hate to try to do this all alone.

I really am praying that its a nice night and none of this will be an issue. My SIL also told me she has changed shifts at work to attend Tyler's graduation. I told her I wish she had checked with me first, because if it is bad weather there will not be a ticket for her.

What should be a great time to celebrate is turning into a stress filled mess. I know we have some time to choose, but I want everyone to be clear about what will happen sooner rather than later. I don't want to have this become a "fight" the week of graduation.

We also have baccalaureate and awards nights that week. Do you think it would appease MIL to be invited to one of those instead of grad?

 

[mommy2mrb]

so hard! pray for good weather to start with!

first ask his brothers if they want to go.
second if they don't who would Ty want to be there in their place.
third do a "lottery" drawing, put everyone's name in a hat and draw out two names.
fourth just you and your DH goes.

good luck! sounds like unfortunately someone's feelings are going to get hurt, but its Ty's day and he should have who he wants to be there!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Ours is a first come first serve seating (indoors only)... doors open at 6pm; ceremony is 7:30pm... so for me I would go with option 1...

First we will all pray for good weather...

But I would do Option 1 would be me, Dh, and my other 2 kids... I would charge up the DS, Ipods and that will get them through the ceremony. I would tell the boys you will get a special treat if you behave. You'll be surprise what they will do to get that special treat.

We are lucky enough that anyone can come no limits.. so we had my sister and her DH, me, DH, 2 boys, FIL, my parents. All together.. just as they were going up to get diplomas DsS22 came in from his 3.5 hour drive from college.. He was able to see PJ get her diploma and as she walked back to her seat she cried because she saw her brother had made it home. (He had told her all week that he wouldn't make it)...

I wish you luck making your decision..

 

[JJ&JHsmom]

Danielle, when Josh graduated and we had to plan for both possibilities, I asked him who his 4 would be. I then explained to everyone that since this day was about him, that he got to make the decision. Everyone was very understanding.

Hope that helps.

 

[tyniknate]

Think I will keep my fingers crossed it doesn't rain.

Then....check with brothers. Do they want to be there or not? If they do, then problem solved. If they don't, I will ask Ty who he wants.

Thanks, ladies.

 

[morgansmom2000]

I would bring the boys. Someday, they will graduate and they will want their brothers there. If they really really really plead to not go, I'd bring your mom and sister. Of course, it really is about him, who does he want there? If it's going to cause hard feelings, just you and DH go.