Anonymous
01/14/2026 17:47
Subject: Re:Graduation celebration expectations.
High school graduation? Generally just an expectation, not an achievement - why celebrate it?
…unless there is a learning challenge that made it a big achievement. No party, no nothing really.
…unless there is a learning challenge that made it a big achievement. No party, no nothing really.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 17:38
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
We did dinner as a nuclear family the evening of.
Then a large party for friends and family prior to leaving for college in the Summer.
Then a large party for friends and family prior to leaving for college in the Summer.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 16:50
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
Anonymous wrote:OP - do what your kid wants and what you want and what is customary in your extended family.
Sometimes, it's not about celebrating every little thing ...sometimes, people just enjoy having fun and the graduation is an excuse to throw a party, host, and hang out with family/friends. If you go to parties, you have to host at some point.
Op here:
Kid doesn’t want a graduation party
I would have liked it but instead
of the 100 People on the list I could have cut it down to 32 extended family.
Some fam members probably would think will there be a party.
We do host parties.
But this one, I am thinking not to, so as to go by kid’s wish.
Although feeling guilty of not inviting others.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 13:29
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
OP - do what your kid wants and what you want and what is customary in your extended family.
Sometimes, it's not about celebrating every little thing ...sometimes, people just enjoy having fun and the graduation is an excuse to throw a party, host, and hang out with family/friends. If you go to parties, you have to host at some point.
Sometimes, it's not about celebrating every little thing ...sometimes, people just enjoy having fun and the graduation is an excuse to throw a party, host, and hang out with family/friends. If you go to parties, you have to host at some point.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 12:15
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
DS graduated from HS in 2024. We asked he and did not want to have any sort of event.
Asked what he wanted and he just wanted to do a simple dinner from his favorite BBQ joint. So, we got takeout and had BBQ after the graduation at our house with us, his sister, his grandparents and my sister.
Many of his close friends had the backyard open house type events and we went to these since we have known the kids and parents since elementary school.
Similar stuff when I graduated except there was a county park close by and quite a few kids I went to school with reserved a picnic pavilion and the event was there rather than their house.
DD is a HS junior and knowing her, there will be some sort of event at our house. Just the difference between siblings.
Asked what he wanted and he just wanted to do a simple dinner from his favorite BBQ joint. So, we got takeout and had BBQ after the graduation at our house with us, his sister, his grandparents and my sister.
Many of his close friends had the backyard open house type events and we went to these since we have known the kids and parents since elementary school.
Similar stuff when I graduated except there was a county park close by and quite a few kids I went to school with reserved a picnic pavilion and the event was there rather than their house.
DD is a HS junior and knowing her, there will be some sort of event at our house. Just the difference between siblings.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 12:06
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
This happens in FCPS. np here. Except, I didn't experience any speeches
Anonymous
01/14/2026 11:54
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
Anonymous wrote:We've been to many family graduations. The best ones have been backyard "open houses", where the graduate invites a few friends, and family+family friends drop in for a few minutes as their schedule allows. Food is simple, sodas and waters in coolers, maybe themed cupcakes with the HS or college colors. One included a rough timeline such as: open house 1-4, hot food will be served at 1pm, short speech at 2:30pm. The kid's friends opted to show up at 1pm for the food and escape the cringe-y parent speeches. Keep in mind they are attending several of their friend's parties in the same 2-3 weekends, so they likely will not stay for the duration unless it's a best friend. And grandparents want to be there for any cake cutting or speeches. Definitely take your kid's preferences into account. I would hate to throw a big party for an overly shy, reluctant teen. Good luck!
Was this in the DMV?
Anonymous
01/13/2026 19:52
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
We've been to many family graduations. The best ones have been backyard "open houses", where the graduate invites a few friends, and family+family friends drop in for a few minutes as their schedule allows. Food is simple, sodas and waters in coolers, maybe themed cupcakes with the HS or college colors. One included a rough timeline such as: open house 1-4, hot food will be served at 1pm, short speech at 2:30pm. The kid's friends opted to show up at 1pm for the food and escape the cringe-y parent speeches. Keep in mind they are attending several of their friend's parties in the same 2-3 weekends, so they likely will not stay for the duration unless it's a best friend. And grandparents want to be there for any cake cutting or speeches. Definitely take your kid's preferences into account. I would hate to throw a big party for an overly shy, reluctant teen. Good luck!
Anonymous
01/13/2026 18:51
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
DS recently graduated HS, as did many kids we know. Some had big parties at their houses or venues. Others did not. We respected DS’s wishes and did not have a party or even a family celebration of any kind. Well meaning extended family, like grandparents, kept asking but we held firm because that’s what he wanted.
We did go out to a nice dinner, just our immediate family, around the time he graduated. We told the waitress he just graduated because we couldn’t help ourselves.
We did go out to a nice dinner, just our immediate family, around the time he graduated. We told the waitress he just graduated because we couldn’t help ourselves.
Anonymous
01/13/2026 18:49
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
Anonymous wrote:We went out to eat afterwards, and that was it. But graduation parties aren't the norm here. They're not freakish, either. But none of our close friends threw them for our kids
+1. We invited everyone to lunch afterward at a nice restaurant nearby.
Anonymous
01/13/2026 18:43
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
I have a daughter who graduated from high school last year. She probably went to 50 high school graduation parties her junior and senior year. None of them were at restaurants. They were all backyard parties.
Anonymous
01/13/2026 18:33
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
Out to lunch afterwards (morning graduation) with those in attendance (parents, siblings, local grandparents).
Back yard party another afternoon, with more relatives and friends invited. The kids coordinate these, as they are drop in and they go from party to party.
Back yard party another afternoon, with more relatives and friends invited. The kids coordinate these, as they are drop in and they go from party to party.
Anonymous
01/13/2026 18:30
Subject: Re:Graduation celebration expectations.
For my youngest we went out to dinner as a family after her graduation then had a family party a week later.
Her best friend had a large party in her backyard with friends and family. I would say 50+ people. The younger sister is graduating this year and they will be having another party for her.
Her best friend had a large party in her backyard with friends and family. I would say 50+ people. The younger sister is graduating this year and they will be having another party for her.
Anonymous
01/13/2026 18:18
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
We're not a fan of parties, so no. A quiet dinner is nice.
Anonymous
01/13/2026 18:06
Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
We went out to eat afterwards, and that was it. But graduation parties aren't the norm here. They're not freakish, either. But none of our close friends threw them for our kids