Hockey vs. Family

[ZephyrHawk]

One of the perks of working for a boss I despise in a job I hate is that sometimes I get invited to neat sporting events to entertain clients. I sort of knew I might get invited to a Red Wings game sometime during the playoffs, but nothing came up. Well, last night the Wings clinched their way into the Stanley Cup Finals (yay Wings!). This morning I get a call from boss that I hate asking if I'd be available to go to the second finals game on Sunday. I regretfully had to say I couldn't. Why? Becuase my husband's youngest sister, the sister we really like, the one who was a cute little 12-year-old junior bridemaid in our wedding, the one who we actively campaigned to send to our Alma Mater, the one who eventually convinced her parents to shell out the bucks for our Alma Mater, is having her high school graduation party. Not only that, her parents were nice enough to invite my parents who will basically have no one besides myself to talk to there.

So, I told DH about this and he is freaking out. He says I should ask to go to the game, that Red Wings tickets in the Stanley Cup Finals are too important. I say he's silly, and family comes first.

Decide for us, Disboards. (poll coming)

 

[HGD24]

Can you go to the ceremony then skip the party to make the game? I have tons of nieces and nephews and young cousins who've graduated high school and honestly, they are too busy celebrating with their friends to notice the adults at their parties for more than a moment or two. For my family younger members, it was more important for me to be at the ceremony and see them get their diploma than it was for me to be at their party. Would your niece feel the same way?

 

[ZephyrHawk]

It's her party, the actual graduation was last week and I was there, taking the majority of the photos. Good thing I did as her mom's camera ran out of charge.

DH is attempting to convince me I can make both...I'm not sure. The party's in Toledo, the game in Detroit, the family will no doubt want us to stay for dinner. Regardless, there is no third option in the poll becuase I'm really just interested in seeing which of us is right, me or DH. Is his sister or a game more important?

 

[suejai]

While I understand that the Stanley Cup Finals are important, afterall my house is full of Canadian males, it is really just a hockey game ( don't tell them I said that, I'll deny everything ). I vote for the graduation. Or perhaps what the pp suggested if the timings work out.

 

[fussymonkey]

I'm a Wings fan, so the idea of passing up finals tickets makes me gasp in horror.

In normal times I'd say that family trumps hockey any day of the week and twice on Sunday, however, I wonder what the work impact will be? Will you be seen as not taking one for the team by not taking the client to the game? Perceived as not participating in a team building event? Or are these just no-strings-attached tickets? Generally, I'd still say family, but Detroit is under duress right now, jobs being lost right and left. I'd do pretty much anything to keep work life going strong right now, no matter how much I'd rather be elsewhere. Especially if you're in sales, especially if you're in automotive.

 

[phisigprincess]

Well, if you decide not to go to the game, I'll give you my number and your boss can call me. As long as no one minds I'll be sporting my black and gold!!

In all honesty, I'd do everything in my power to make both. Could you just put in an appearance, not stay for dinner and go to the game?

 

[phisigprincess]

In normal times I'd say that family trumps hockey any day of the week and twice on Sunday, however, I wonder what the work impact will be? Will you be seen as not taking one for the team by not taking the client to the game? Perceived as not participating in a team building event? Or are these just no-strings-attached tickets? Generally, I'd still say family, but Detroit is under duress right now, jobs being lost right and left. I'd do pretty much anything to keep work life going strong right now, no matter how much I'd rather be elsewhere. Especially if you're in sales, especially if you're in automotive.

In that regard, my cousin's husband missed our wedding for a baseball game for work. His daughter was our flower girl and he really wanted to be there, but the impact on his job was just too great to miss it. So on one hand it was "just a baseball game," but on the other it was a responsibility for work. There were no hard feelings at all over it.

 

[jen0610]

It's her party, the actual graduation was last week and I was there, taking the majority of the photos. Good thing I did as her mom's camera ran out of charge.

DH is attempting to convince me I can make both...I'm not sure. The party's in Toledo, the game in Detroit, the family will no doubt want us to stay for dinner. Regardless, there is no third option in the poll becuase I'm really just interested in seeing which of us is right, me or DH. Is his sister or a game more important?

With the two being sooo close - just an hour+ drive - if at all possible, I would do both. You were there for the actual graduation and you will be there for some or all of the party. There isn't a requirement for you to do the family dinner, unless you want to.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Take this for what it's worth as I'm one that was away on a good bit of my Own DDs birthday for several years as it fell on my PaintBall WorldCup that just happen to be in Disney's WWoS. Now we always had a nice party for her the weekend before or after and there seems to be no long term damage as I started to take her when she got a bit older.


But it seems to me You have a Better connection with Girl and it has meaning for YOU to be there that day to help her celebrate what seems to be an important day for Her. If you go and are looking at your watch and wanting to leave then Why go at all.

So I'm really no help at all just throwing out thoughts for you to think about. Is Hockey a Real Sport (now that my Caps are out of it lol) anyhow and Oh Husbands are always Right even when we're wrong

 

[RadioNate]

There is no right or wrong answer. Are you a fan? Would it just be you at the game? Would DH go to the party?

My SIL graduated from HS a few years ago and I didn't go to the party. DH, however, did BUT if his team was in the finals and he had a chance to go I'm pretty sure he would pick the game!

 

[HGD24]

It's her party, the actual graduation was last week and I was there, taking the majority of the photos. Good thing I did as her mom's camera ran out of charge.

I say go to the game since you've already gone to the ceremony.

 

[redwingfan3991]

As a diehard Wings fan....there would be no thinking about it...
The Wings hands down

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Tough decision. Very tough.

dh and I are big hockey fans. He has held season tickets to one team or another, in different states, since 1985 (me with him since 1989). We were at game seven in 2001 to watch the Avalanche kiss the cup, and it was one of the most exciting and memorable events of our lives.

Still, I had to vote for the graduation party. Family beats out fun in my book. A finals game is important to the team, who will have no idea whether you're there or not. A graduation is important to your SIL, who will know whether you're there or not.

Now, if it was a potentially series-clinching game, my answer might be different!

 

[DisneyWalker44]

Of course you go to the game. You think a high-school grad cares of her "old" sister-in-law comes to her gradution party? There will be many more family events. How often are hockey tickets like this going to come along.

It's the Stanly Cup. It's Hockeytown. You go.

 

[Nie0214]

I vote for the game-- you already went to her ceremony and have (seemingly) been a large influence to her. I'm sure she'll understand. Maybe you can have a dinner with the 3 of you another night to make it up to her.

I know my mom wouldn't ever pick a graduation party over Red Sox World Series tickets.

 

[TheGoofster]

I say go to the game, and send your husband to the graduation party with a very, very nice gift from you (find out what she really likes, and get her something personal)
That way everyone involved is happy.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Go to the Graduation party.

You won't miss anything except the Red Wings losing.

GO PENS!!!

 

[maddhatir]

Heck! If DH is giving you the greenlight- there should be no thinking involved!

GO!!!!!!

 

[PghLybrt]

Go see the PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[monkey68]

I would go and wear your red and white proudly, because I can't stand the Penguins. And I'm a huge hockey fan, not even a Red Wings fan, but a huge hockey fan, and I would not pass up on this. Heck, my dad missed my birthday when I was 9 because the Rangers were playing in the Stanley Cup Finals and he had to watch. I wanted to watch it too, but my mother said I needed to stay and have dinner with the rest of the family.

Alternatively, you can send me the tickets, I'll even buy a Red Wings jersey!