Foo - Graduation questions

A co-worker has just sent an email to inform me that her son's graduation ceremony is this weekend and that I'm invited. There's an attached photograph of him in cap and gown, holding what I presume is a rolled up certificate.

Fair enough so far, except...aforementioned Goldenchild is graduating from preschool. Effing preschool!

Since when did that become an event worthy of caps, gowns, ceremonies and professional photographs? It's PRESCHOOL! Exactly what does a child have to do NOT to complete preschool? What should I anticipate if and when he actually accomplishes something in life like, I dunno, spells his name correctly?

I've met the child exactly no times and as said co-worker and I aren't what you would call close, I'm assuming my invitation is no more than a solicitation for a gift. I'm thinking of getting him the cardboard tube from inside a toilet roll. Is that appropriate?

I'd just tell them congratulations and ask if the child plans on going to kindergarten and if so what does she plan to study.

My daughter is 23 and she didn't have a kindergarten graduation, I think this has only happened in the last 15 years or so.

You can respond in two ways:

1) Write an email back and say "How nice. At least you'll have one photo of him wearing a cap and gown. You never know how kids will turn out when they get older."

2) Send a congratulatory electronic card (like something schmaltzy from Hallmark.com), and then invite her to your pet's birthday party the next time it rolls around.

My daughter is 23 and she didn't have a kindergarten graduation, I think this has only happened in the last 15 years or so.

I remember some kind of ceremony at the end of kindergarten. I think there was even some kind of cap, gown and document. And that was a lot more than 23 years ago.

It sure didn't mean much to me. I think I was focused on punch and cake.

op, what would hunter do? maybe buy a card. write something sweet and profound. sign it. then take it to the shooting range, string it up, decorate it with a few artistic shots from the 9 mil, and mail it off. simple, really.

follow up with too many assorted drugs of your choice and make phone calls to old friends all night long.

I never had any of this when I was in school - it was Senior year at HS when there was the first graduation. Nowadays people celebrate graduations for many things - and school is a big thing that people are really promoting - all grades. It's promoting being in school - the kids love the celebration. It is strange to me too though as I am old school and used to the 12 yr HS grad, then college, etc.

The worm might be turning, however.

Wasn't it last week that the media tried to beat up the story about a teacher telling his graduating students that they were nothing special? The interesting thing for me was that the parents of the kids thought it was OK for the teacher to say that because it was... true!

The bleeding hearts really are spoiling it for the rest of us. They are producing a society that, by and large, is fat, lazy, thinks it has entitlement to everything as a right, and believes it's much better than it really is.

Would be a good theme for a reply card, eh?

Good suggestions all.

I don't have a problem with celebrating achievement. I just think there has to be some achievement before the celebration. In my not at all humble opinion, graduating preschool is no more worthy of a celebration than graduating lunch.

The worm might be turning, however.

Wasn't it last week that the media tried to beat up the story about a teacher telling his graduating students that they were nothing special? The interesting thing for me was that the parents of the kids thought it was OK for the teacher to say that because it was... true!



http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20120607youre_not_special

I operate on the theory that a real invitation arrives either on paper or via an in-person request. Anything else can be ignored.

I've also noticed that people who send e-mail invitations tend to be the same ones who do things like have graduation parties for pre-schoolers.

Our daughter's preschool did a graduation ceremony. We went, but certainly didn't invite anyone, let alone expect anyone - including grandparents!! - to get a gift. Thankfully, her kindergarten did not do anything beyond a last day of school picnic.

Inviting a bare acquaintance? Formally? What a crock. I'm not sure if I'd call her on it or just ignore it. Too bad there's not a card with Mr. Incredible on it....

Is your coworker a hot mom?

Couch

Good suggestions all.

I don't have a problem with celebrating achievement. I just think there has to be some achievement before the celebration. In my not at all humble opinion, graduating preschool is no more worthy of a celebration than graduating lunch.

Give him the Nobel Peace Prize, seems to fit the occasion.

Good suggestions all.

I don't have a problem with celebrating achievement. I just think there has to be some achievement before the celebration. In my not at all humble opinion, graduating preschool is no more worthy of a celebration than graduating lunch.

Well, for a pre-schooler, sitting through a ceremony like that is an achievement. Talk about pointless boredom! The pre-schooler wants to know when the punch and cake is, and can they go to the bathroom, or go play.

I recall a cap and gown ceremony at the end of my pre-school. I hated the feel of that gown on me so much that I skipped my HS graduation ceremony.

Since when did that become an event worthy of caps, gowns, ceremonies and professional photographs? It's PRESCHOOL! Exactly what does a child have to do NOT to complete preschool? What should I anticipate if and when he actually accomplishes something in life like, I dunno, spells his name correctly?

Apparently these things can be dangerous. Brawl at Preschool Graduation. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/14/parents-brawl-preschool-graduation_n_1598452.html)

Get teh kid a thing of that mint glue paste junk with a note saying don't eat it.

Believe it or not, a kid can flunk out of preschool and be held back. Its about socialization skills. I don't want to spoil the fun but just google basic kindergarten skills.

Think long term and get the kid a nice gift like a bugle, drumset or puppy. There's an initial expense but you'll never get invited to this kind of crap again.

Uhhh.... huh? What color is the sky in your world? Tell me how can you get held back from a voluntary program you don't even have to attend, let alone complete.

Kindergarten is not preschool. You can fail kindergarten... but not preschool. Though I suppose you can get a recommendation to not begin kindergarten for another year.

Believe it or not, a kid can flunk out of preschool and be held back.

Maybe this is just further evidence of why I'm going to H-E-double hockey sticks when I die but this made me laff.


Think long term and get the kid a nice gift like a bugle, drumset or puppy. There's an initial expense but you'll never get invited to this kind of crap again.

I did once tell my sister that if she didn't stop giving me crap about my taste in clothes, I would buy my then 3-year old nephew a trumpet. Years on, I realize she was right about my taste in clothes, but that's not the point.


Is your coworker a hot mom?

<Shudder> Nope. Kid doesn't even have that going for him.

The worm might be turning, however.

Wasn't it last week that the media tried to beat up the story about a teacher telling his graduating students that they were nothing special? The interesting thing for me was that the parents of the kids thought it was OK for the teacher to say that because it was... true!

The bleeding hearts really are spoiling it for the rest of us. They are producing a society that, by and large, is fat, lazy, thinks it has entitlement to everything as a right, and believes it's much better than it really is.

Would be a good theme for a reply card, eh?


Hunt that one down and watch it. It's good. The guy is an effing genius - he's completely right.

You can fail kindergarten...

That has to create some personal issues.

They are actually having a freaking party for that?

That is so freaking sad.

I'd ignore it.

...Kindergarten is not preschool. You can fail kindergarten...

Not in New York. Kindergarten isn't required - you just have to start school by age 6. Some ( very, very few ) kids just start right out in first grade.

Since when did that become an event worthy of caps, gowns, ceremonies and professional photographs?
For my area, it started in 1984. My sister had both preschool and kindergarten graduations, but I didn't. Take her years in those school and compare to mine, and it started in 1984.

The purpose of it is to give the kids a sense of closure. It lets them know that pre-school is over, they won't be going back, and they're going on to the next thing.
But inviting anybody beyond grandparents,and that is a strech, is pretty f'n pretentious.
Ask him if what kind of beer they will have.

Ignore the invitation.

If your coworker asks why you didn't show, ask, "Oh, was that serious???"

Think long term and get the kid a nice gift like a bugle, drumset or puppy. There's an initial expense but you'll never get invited to this kind of crap again.

Truely an evil idea. You are my kind of person.

The purpose of it is to give the kids a sense of closure. It lets them know that pre-school is over, they won't be going back, and they're going on to the next thing.
But inviting anybody beyond grandparents,and that is a strech, is pretty f'n pretentious.
Ask him if what kind of beer they will have.

Nice balance. It does in a way make sense, esp. if the preschool is stand alone.

I can even see using this as an excuse for a party. But for the (expected to be boring) preeschool graduation I think Grandparents only provides a good guideline. There could be exceptions for soem other close friends. But clsoe as in ones that would be at least considered as godparents.

Pre-school graduations are absolutely essential!

Look at the reverse. Failure to have a preshool graduation will emotionally scar those children for life. In this litigous society, each preschooler so scarred would have grounds to bring action against the preschool for all the pain and suffering. The preschool would have to set up a college endowment for each of the aggrieved preschoolers as a remedy to offset that handicap they will carry through life!

Of course, a graduation announcement is nothing more than trolling for gifts. Since they can't drive, too young for a car, but perhaps a Matchbox Ferrarri. Better yet, a firetruck with wailing sirens that the parents who sent you the announcement will have to listen to.

Nice balance. It does in a way make sense, esp. if the preschool is stand alone.

I can even see using this as an excuse for a party. But for the (expected to be boring) preeschool graduation I think Grandparents only provides a good guideline. There could be exceptions for soem other close friends. But clsoe as in ones that would be at least considered as godparents.


I must tell you I'm not particularly interested in attending my grandsons' preschool graduation.

I was talking with an acquaintance last night, and he mentioned he had a graduation to attend. I asked form whom. His answer "My granddaughters preschool. I don't get it."
I though of this thread.