Anonymous
Post 01/20/2026 07:39     Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
Anonymous wrote:OP, all of his friends, most are in the same grade and graduating too, right? What we see around us are Open Houses. More high schoolers than adults, but plenty of adults, and siblings. Sort of a way for families to say goodbye to each other/or say, "we really should get together. Let's make sure we stay in touch." and some mean it.

The silly thing is: every Grad party invites a gift. Often the preferred gift is a gift card rather than just handing them cash. You give my kid a gift card, and the next weekend at your party I'll give your kid a gift card.

For relatives who come, they usually enjoy seeing the high schooler's peers, who their friends are. How teenagers interact. Most family are satisfied to just be included.


Why? Just have a party for graduate and his/her friends. Do another family gathering for the celebration if graduate wants. Should be what the person graduating wants.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 18:47     Subject: Graduation celebration expectations.
Anonymous wrote: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.


This is our plan as well. Nothing big graduation weekend so DS can have the event as he wishes. But a compromise of a bigger family and friends party later in the summer. He’s ok with it because it’s separate from graduation week. It is a compromise because grandparents will be there for the actual graduation and they don’t understand why the party won’t be then. But it’s his graduation so I’ll deal with it.