Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Don't Read This if You're Feeling All Pollyanna Today

Oh the graduation season is well upon us. I can get really worked up over a good college graduation - easy enough. Especially since I struggled so hard to complete my own education - working full-time, getting married - all of that makes things like taking Structural Functionalism and You a little less palatable and a lot more rewarding when you do it anyway.

High school graduations? I can still work up the enthusiasm. I have friends who have sent me announcements for their child's graduation and it's with some nostalgia and joy that I send the requisite card and check. Of course, I also think we go a little overboard celebrating the step which is still in my mind the minimum expected. But I get it.

Junior high graduations? Forget it. What's to celebrate? Really...they HAVE to go on to the next level. It's like taking your next breath. Yeah, congrats for doing what basically every American kid can do.

And as for kindergarten graduations? One of which I had to attend today for my own child? It was sweet. He was met in the arms by his new first grade teacher - it was ceremonious and sacred and very - sweet. Did I already say that? At least they didn't subject us to the kids in mortar boards and robes - sweet Mother of Jesus save it for college (and high school). But I was less than weepy at this one. Plus, the entire time Jack was on my lap conspiring to make an already craptastic day even more so. Jacob had a special wooden star wand that he received to represent the magic of school (which I appreciated - at least it wasn't a diploma for cripe's sake)...which Jack promptly yanked from his brother mid-ceremony and proceeded to beat me with.

It's the kind of day where I was actually happy that he didn't draw blood from my face. I considered that a huge plus as I attempted to keep things down to a dull roar as the other children matriculated from paste eating the hallowed halls of kindergarten.

I need a drink and something else....

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL... seriously, thank you for that one. Craptastic. I love it. Definitely going to use that on a daily basis to sum up things. I hope your boys don't beat you with stars anymore.

Anonymous said...

For many, many reasons I am eternally grateful that our school does not convene a graduation for Kindergarten.

Instead, I'm simply caught up in the mire of the year-end teacher gifts.

Unknown said...

Ack! A STAR?! Why couldn't it have been something less pointy?

Congrats on surviving! :)

Have that drink. You deserve it.

painted maypole said...

ha ha. K grad is so overdone. and junior high? please? they should have baccalaureate ceremonies, fine, but graduation? get over yourselves. it's like giveing trophies to every kid in every dance class and on every sport team. overdone.

flutter said...

Crapfest is another favorite...

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Amen, sister!

You'd probably be as pissed as I am when people look at me like I'm looney tunes for giving my kids a nice hardback book (a la Lord of the Rings) for 8th grade promotion while they give $200 cameras.

BlondeBlogger said...

Hahahaha...you are hilarious! Amanda's actually graduating high school and I just can't believe it. Seems like just yesterday she was in kindergarten (homeschooled, though)

I have high speed now, btw, so I'll be able to come by more often now...yay! :)

Anonymous said...

My daughter had a K grad this week. They used robes (white & gold silk), mortar boards, diplomas, and a slide show. I had to run out an hour before for a gift and card. I was the only parent without a huge bouquet and we were the only family that hadn't RSVPed for 10+ of extended family & friends.

Bogart said...

I am with you...it is silly.

And sorry about your star beating...that sounds a bit painful!

Joanie said...

I think the whole thing would chafe less if it were called a rite of passage... or transition ceremony... or anything other than "graduation." Because, while I realize kindergarten is significant in that it's the first year of "real school," I agree that getting through you first year without getting poisoned by paste eating hardly warrants a round of pomp and circumstance.

Anonymous said...

I've been griping about this all week at my house. We had a PRE-SCHOOL graduation, complete with bright yellow, $22, cap and gown, as well as a 5th grade graduation. By the time they get to their Senior year, they won't care about walking across the stage because they've done it so many times. I'm all for marking the occasion, but I think it could be done in the classroom and still be meaningful for the kids. And as for gifts - forget about it.

dkaz said...

I agree - it does make the 'real' graduations seem anti-climactic to have them throughout pre-school, etc.
I did like my son's graduation from Catholic grade school, though. They were together for 9 years (K - 8th) and are all going to a lot of different High Schools, so it was nice to have a ceremony to celebrate their time together. A lot of families went out to dinner together afterward. No caps or gowns required - just a nice retrospective of a nice group of kids growing up together.

Magpie said...

Aw - I hope you got that drink and stuff...

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

yeah, I graduated once. My kids will graduate like 47 times. It's a little out of control.