avrelia

It seems that I managed to disturb the local online Russian-speaking community today by asking what I thought to be an innocent question: "should I go to Daniel's high school graduation?" I don't really plan to skip it, but Daniel seems lukewarm about the whole thing, and the Senior Awards last week was full of profoundly long and boring speeches, and lasted three hours, and I imagined the graduation ceremony to be twice as long. But as I asked I thought the answers would be "go, it would be great!" instead I feel people are ready to report me to child services for daring to consider skipping one ceremony.

I am planning to go, at the very least I am curious to present at the graduation. I mean mostly I am familiar with the process through movies and tv, and how likely is that our town’s mayor will turn into a giant snake during Daniel’s graduation?

His prom was already not at all like all the movies. He just went by himself and danced with his friends and had a good time. And at midnight I went and picked him up from school.

But given that I shall have also George's elementary school farewell, it would all be rather exhausting, honestly. In truth, I am overwhelmed with all the graduation activities this month for both of my kids, and there are so many events for both of them! it's crazy – and the school theater, and soccer end of the season.

I don't think I've missed any of Daniel's ceremonies in all his school life. But for many people it seems there is just one event one cannot miss – the high school graduation, which is something I don’t understand. I don’t feel, to be honest, it to be that much of an achievement. I don’t want to minimize Daniel’s efforts and the work he did, really, but it feels strange that missing everything yet coming to the graduation means one is a good parent, but missing graduation equals being a bad parent and traumatizing one’s child forever.

I am probably too alien still.

I remember my graduation day. It was a milestone, but mostly for spending last day and night with my classmates. I don’t even remember whether my parents were there. I think not, it wasn’t a big deal for me, their presence there. I loved having that day to myself.