S/O will you watch nieces, nephews, cousins graduate?

[kimblebee]

After reading some of the responses in the graduation thread, it got me wondering..

Would you or have you gone to watch your nieces or nephews or cousins graduate?

Personally, I haven't and I don't think I would if asked. I won't ask my siblings to watch my daughter graduate next year. Heck, none of us siblings watched the others graduate either. Our Uncle didn't attend and our Grandparents didn't either.

I don't understand the importance of watching your second cousin graduate when all you're actually witnessing is them sitting in a crowd for a few hours then seeing them for a whole two minutes up on the stage. But, to be fair, I don't understand the point of having 200 people at a graduation party that includes co workers of the parents.

 

[CdnCarrie]

No. And most high schools limit grads to x number of seats as there are only so many available.

 

[wgeo]

When I was kid only the immediate family went to the ceremony and then everyone was invited to an open house at a later date.

I have one niece that I am very close to and I wanted to go to her graduation because her parents/siblings weren't going, but I couldn't get there due to the timing and distance. All the other nieces/nephews I wouldn't even think twice -just send cards.

But the city where I live now, it seems like things are maybe different. Even to the 5th grade graduation, where they made it very clear that each kid could only invite 2 people, there were some kids there with 10 or more people, lots of extended family. I guess there are some families that like to turn out for everything.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Nope

 

[Westcoastwild]

It depends on who it is and what school it is.

My cousins went to school in a farming town where my mother grew up. Graduation was a huge deal. Open houses, parties afterwards. So I guess if my husband's family came from somewhere like that, I'd go to the graduations of nieces and nephews.

I'd also go if the graduate asked me to be there. I have the same attitude towards weddings. I don't mean invitation- I mean if it really meant something to them that I'd show up.

But largely I don't go. I don't even want to sit through my own, let alone someone else's.

 

[ronandannette]

No. And most high schools limit grads to x number of seats as there are only so many available.

Graduation (ceremony and banquet) is an invitation-only event at every school I know of. The parents usually have to pay for the tickets also. I'd go for an extended-family member if invited, but I never have been. Over the years we've gone to a couple for the children of very close friends; again by invitation.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'll pass.
I would never ask anyone to come to my children's graduation either.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

My niece graduates in less than 2 weeks and yes I am going.
We are a very small family and I live with her so I'm very close to her.
I will also go when my other sister's children graduate. My nephew will in 2 years and it will be quite a while until my other two nieces do but I'll be there.
My parents were both only children so we really don't have a ton of family left and what we do have is only a few in my generation and the rest are older.

 

[momto2girls]

I am close to my sister's children ( a niece and a nephew). If invited I would go to their graduations (high school, not college). Other than that, there is no one aside from my own children's that I would attend.

 

[E&Cmom]

No.

They only allocated a small amount of tickets here.

 

[porschegrl]

I watched the live stream of a niece's college graduation. She's the first of the nieces/nephews to finish college, and she graduated from my alma mater.

A couple weeks later, a nephew's high school graduation was streamed online, but I didn't watch that one.

 

[prprincess]

My nieces and nephews, yes. But most schools in our area limit guests by tickets, so half the time only parents are able to attend.

But I do hear ya about the extended family thing. My mother has traveled to both FL and TN because her siblings wanted her to see their children graduate, and to be honest with you, I would never. It's a bit much to ask of people, especially out of state like that. She's a saint for doing it, but I would never ask anyone, nor would I expect it.

 

[Southernmiss]

Yes. We go to high school graduations of nieces and nephews. Ds had 16 family members in attendance at his graduation and a few who couldn't make it in May. Dmil drove 6 hours and was here for all 3 sons when they graduated. The coliseum here was almost full for 371 students. We went out to eat after- dh and I paid for everyone. Easier than hosting a party at home, especially since graduation starts at 6 pm and ran to almost 9 pm

Next year we'll drive 2.5 hours for our nephew's graduation and stay over night. He's an only child and has come to our 3 sons graduations.

It's what our family and others in the area do.

College graduation is different-just immediate family and grandparents.

 

[Poohforyou]

My family is so spread out all over the world so there isn't any expectation of our going to any graduations. Perhaps if someone was attending a college near us - we have 3 within 10 miles. Otherwise, we wouldn't go.

Dd gets 4 tickets for outside and 2 tickets for inside for her upcoming high school graduation. I wouldn't think of inviting people and then not have seats for them.

 

[dish rag]

Sure, when we can. It's family and lots of fun. Something to do.

 

[BLAZEY]

If there was an extra ticket, sure I would go. With limited tickets I would think parents or grandparents would take priority.

 

[lorimay]

With ticket limitations, thankfully we are spared that 2-3 hour ceremony. But I will happily go to a family member's party if I am invited.

For my kids, I have only invited their grandparents to attend, again ticket limits.

 

[RedAngie]

I'm an only child, so no nieces and nephews. DH and exH have some, but, no, we were never invited to their graduation ceremonies nor would we attend if invited. To a party afterwards or at a later date, probably yes if invited.

 

[disykat]

I went to my own, my siblings, and my children's. I just went to my youngest son's college graduation yesterday. I anticipate that will be the last graduation ceremony I attend. By the time I have grandchildren I'll be well into my 70's or higher. At that point I'll use the age excuse to just skip the ceremony and go to a party! (I couldn't believe all the elderly people sitting out in the sun for hours yesterday!)

The only graduation I've ever attended for anyone other than very immediate family was the college one I would have been part of had I not graduated early and walked in a different ceremony. All my friends and roommates were graduating.

I do not consider graduation ceremonies fun. I will happily celebrate the milestone with anyone, just not the ceremony!

 

[ols386]

If I had been close with them, I would. Otherwise, no.