Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 14:07:04 GMT
We have a real awkward year going on with DD (my most introverted kid plus she's been pretty brutal in ending not great friendships - she is so ready to move on from HS) so I'm on the fence about a grad party or not. And we would have to hold it the weekend of graduation as she is shipping out to basic in mid-June. FYI, we are in an area where they are a fairly big deal - food, games, photo props/backgrounds. And sometimes kids will do combined parties to share expense and cut down on the number of parties to attend.
I suspect we will see some improvement in the pandemic by June (crossing my fingers) but if we do a party it may be primarily for the extended family to say their goodbyes before basic training. Yet, I can see a lot of the extended family not coming if the pandemic hasn't substantially improved by then (well, we would for sure get 2 families of aunt/uncles/cousins plus a few assorted others).
At some point I'd like to move off the fence and plan - I'm inclined to just do it, keep it small and outdoors and whatever it will be, will be. Or COVID gives us a perfect reason to not have one at all.
If you have a HS senior this year, what do you think you will plan? Love to hear your party ideas if you are planning one!
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Post by Basket1lady on Jan 21, 2021 14:24:18 GMT
Based on my hope and prayers that some sort of celebrations will happen, I would plan something. Low key is fine. A party of 20 is just as good (or in my opinion, better) than a party of 200. And I’ll be honest, the party was for DH and I as well. We wanted to celebrate.
I really debated having a party for DS. He had a few close friends and that was about it. I gave him invites to pass out to those he wanted to invite and sent the relatives their invites. We had it the same day as the graduation. Four family members there who flew in for the graduation and the rest were friends, neighbors, teachers, and people from church. All in all, I’d say that we had 50 people come over 4 hours. It was a relaxed party and I got to see a lot of people I hadn’t seen in a while.
DD was very social and had a huge circle of friends. But we chose again to have it the same day as graduation. Understandably, many of her friends didn’t make it, or only came for a quick hello. But I’d say we had about 70 people come through.
Now for college, we just did a dinner out with family. It was low key and a lot quieter. DS went to college out of state, so he didn’t have friends who were available. That was a great day, too! We plan to do something similar for DD, who graduates this year. If there’s a graduation, DH and I will fly back. We should get our vaccines in March, so we should be ok. If there isn’t a graduation, we will rent a lake house for DD and her friends to stay at for the weekend. We’ve talked to her about this and she likes the idea.
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Jan 21, 2021 14:26:21 GMT
What does your daughter want to do?
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Jan 21, 2021 14:30:36 GMT
First, make sure your DD even wants a party.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 14:38:01 GMT
What does your daughter want to do? I read this and my mind directly jump to "in life?? who freakin' knows!!!" Sorry, this is my sweetest child who manages to keep things topsy turvy around here. She had always said she didn't want a party (like her sisters) which I think is totally her introverted self (FWIW, you wouldn't meet her and peg her as an introvert). Once she got into this school year she has talked about it as if she is having one and we have lightly discussed some party plans. I think the fact that she knows she is going to basic is probably why she changed her mind, she definitely wants to say goodbyes before then. And I do need to talk to her again at some point and make a firm decision - if she opts not to, we won't. |
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Jan 21, 2021 14:39:42 GMT
I haven't even given graduation parties a thought. May is already looking busy for us between band banquet, project graduation (which is like a big seniors only party), and graduation itself. I can't imagine we'll do more than a family celebration, but if we do, it will be something in the backyard that I spend the first half of the pandemic fixing up!
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Post by Merge on Jan 21, 2021 14:45:00 GMT
I’m just hoping we get to have graduation in some form.
My dd is also an introvert and would hate a party. And they’re not really a thing in our district. So.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 14:46:26 GMT
Based on my hope and prayers that some sort of celebrations will happen, I would plan something. Low key is fine. A party of 20 is just as good (or in my opinion, better) than a party of 200. And I’ll be honest, the party was for DH and I as well. We wanted to celebrate. I really debated having a party for DS. He had a few close friends and that was about it. I gave him invites to pass out to those he wanted to invite and sent the relatives their invites. We had it the same day as the graduation. Four family members there who flew in for the graduation and the rest were friends, neighbors, teachers, and people from church. All in all, I’d say that we had 50 people come over 4 hours. It was a relaxed party and I got to see a lot of people I hadn’t seen in a while. DD was very social and had a huge circle of friends. But we chose again to have it the same day as graduation. Understandably, many of her friends didn’t make it, or only came for a quick hello. But I’d say we had about 70 people come through. Now for college, we just did a dinner out with family. It was low key and a lot quieter. DS went to college out of state, so he didn’t have friends who were available. That was a great day, too! We plan to do something similar for DD, who graduates this year. If there’s a graduation, DH and I will fly back. We should get our vaccines in March, so we should be ok. If there isn’t a graduation, we will rent a lake house for DD and her friends to stay at for the weekend. We’ve talked to her about this and she likes the idea. I agree on the low key, it may be more meaningful and comfortable for her. She may or may not be willing to hand out invites to friends and that's fine, we would mostly plan for family. Love the renting a lake house idea! College graduations for our oldest 2 got weird - 1st due to oldest being a brat about it and 2nd due to COVID this spring. I would have liked if they were memorable events for them, but just didn't work out that way. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 14:50:58 GMT
I haven't even given graduation parties a thought. May is already looking busy for us between band banquet, project graduation (which is like a big seniors only party), and graduation itself. I can't imagine we'll do more than a family celebration, but if we do, it will be something in the backyard that I spend the first half of the pandemic fixing up! Good timing on the backyard fix up  Your senior's year sounds like our first two, I miss the excitement. We are just getting through with this one, which is totally fine, too. She is so excited to go off to basic, so it's been fun in a different way. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 14:58:44 GMT
I’m just hoping we get to have graduation in some form. My dd is also an introvert and would hate a party. And they’re not really a thing in our district. So. It's nice to hear I'm not the only one with the introverted kid and I'd prefer if they weren't such a big thing here. And really, there have always been kids that don't have them and I kind of hate the disparity. Totally agree on the graduation - if they could do exactly what they did here last year I would love that. Kids made appointments to come in to walk across the stage and have pics with family the week before. They did a graduation presentation that went out and then they did a short parade through town so they could be cheered one. They had to have a sign with the grad's name and could decorate the vehicle otherwise. Some kids wore their cap and gown and some went casual, it was neat and everyone was happy with it. We also have an all-night grad party here and it's being planned and hope that can happen. Last year they modified it and did it mid-summer and didn't do it overnight. DD does want to go. |
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Post by pierkiss on Jan 21, 2021 15:01:32 GMT
Does she want a party? If she doesn’t, maybe plan a small trip instead?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 15:10:19 GMT
Does she want a party? If she doesn’t, maybe plan a small trip instead? She is planning a small trip with her sister to visit the other sister in Utah. We do a big family trip after each HS grad - we won't go until after she is back from basic and AIT, so this fall or winter. If we don't do a party, DH and I decided we would give a little "spiff" to her grad gift - we talked about $500 although we aren't throwing that out at a choice at this point. She has talked this school year as if she is planning to have a party. |
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 21, 2021 15:36:14 GMT
I don't know if we will do a party, esp bc of COVID. She is going with friends to Duck, NC for "Senior Beach Week." so I kind of think that is her party...
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 21, 2021 15:41:20 GMT
We haven't really talked about it, but should. We don't have family that live here so I was already a little unsure of how to proceed before Covid. Do we have a party here and still invite family, even if we know they won't come? Or don't invite them if that seems like a gift grab? Or would they be offended not to be invited? Or do we have a party here and a party closer to family? Now it is even more confusing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 16:52:32 GMT
I'm trying to not think too far ahead. We will need to have SOME sort of party because we have a lot of people who will want to celebrate with our DS. He does want to do a trip this summer, but might just do that with DH - DD and I are going to Disney for her band to play (unless that gets cancelled). I would like us to do a family trip, but DH and DS don't want to do Disney and I'm not sure we can manage two trips this summer for all of us together.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 16:57:29 GMT
I don't know if we will do a party, esp bc of COVID. She is going with friends to Duck, NC for "Senior Beach Week." so I kind of think that is her party... That sounds like the ultimate celebration for a HS senior  and yeah, I'd call it the party! |
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Belle
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Post by Belle on Jan 21, 2021 17:02:42 GMT
I don't think huge, eleborate parties are a thing here.
I will definitely want to celebrate DS accomplishments and will likely ask him, when the time comes, what he would like to do. Pre-Covid, we probably would have gone out to a fancy dinner between graduation and the grad night festivities and include whoever came to the graduation ceremonies. This year, I don't think there will be grad night festivities and not sure about going "out" to eat.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jan 21, 2021 17:03:39 GMT
I don't know if we will do a party, esp bc of COVID. She is going with friends to Duck, NC for "Senior Beach Week." so I kind of think that is her party... I love this idea. I would do this for DD if her school was closer to a real beach (Minnesota beaches in mid-May are rather chilly!) |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 17:10:42 GMT
We haven't really talked about it, but should. We don't have family that live here so I was already a little unsure of how to proceed before Covid. Do we have a party here and still invite family, even if we know they won't come? Or don't invite them if that seems like a gift grab? Or would they be offended not to be invited? Or do we have a party here and a party closer to family? Now it is even more confusing. Most of our family is relatively close (1-2 hours away for the most part) although if they were further away, I would be uncertain what to do, too. We have done the traditional mailed open house invite, which I think people enjoy since it has pics of the senior. I haven't hesitated to send them to a few out-of-state people that wouldn't attend. How about do a more casual open house invite on a private FB group so that you can share party details, some photos of the graduate and then something like requesting that if they are far away, please share good wishes and advice for the future in the FB group? We did one of those for the last grad party we had, which was more of a way to RSVP (which I really don't care too much about this time). About 1/2 the parties we get grad party invites to are through FB only. |
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 21, 2021 17:15:53 GMT
I don't know if we will do a party, esp bc of COVID. She is going with friends to Duck, NC for "Senior Beach Week." so I kind of think that is her party... I love this idea. I would do this for DD if her school was closer to a real beach (Minnesota beaches in mid-May are rather chilly!) This is a tradition, as far as I know (and it was also when I was graduating HS in MD) - kids go to Ocean City, MD the week after graduation. They typically stay close to the boardwalk, and because everyone knows they are young and graduated, it seems only the worst of places will rent to them. I offered to rent a house that I would stay in, in the outerbanks. The friend group wasn't too excited, which I get, for an adult to be present, but I wasn't singing a lease unless I was at the house. So another parent did. But my DH and I are also renting a house in Corolla the same week - DH is a little freaked out for her to be over 5 hrs away  but because we cancelled everything last year, we thought this would be a nice opportunity for us to take DS (we'll allow him to bring a friend if there is someone he wants to ask) and go on a vacation too, as best we can in COVID times. I've often wondered if other parts of the country have a "beach week" or something like MD does. |
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Post by Basket1lady on Jan 21, 2021 18:20:46 GMT
I love this idea. I would do this for DD if her school was closer to a real beach (Minnesota beaches in mid-May are rather chilly!) This is a tradition, as far as I know (and it was also when I was graduating HS in MD) - kids go to Ocean City, MD the week after graduation. They typically stay close to the boardwalk, and because everyone knows they are young and graduated, it seems only the worst of places will rent to them. I offered to rent a house that I would stay in, in the outerbanks. The friend group wasn't too excited, which I get, for an adult to be present, but I wasn't singing a lease unless I was at the house. So another parent did. But my DH and I are also renting a house in Corolla the same week - DH is a little freaked out for her to be over 5 hrs away  but because we cancelled everything last year, we thought this would be a nice opportunity for us to take DS (we'll allow him to bring a friend if there is someone he wants to ask) and go on a vacation too, as best we can in COVID times. I've often wondered if other parts of the country have a "beach week" or something like MD does. We lived in Virginia when DD graduated HS. There was a big group that went to one kid’s parents’ house down in Nags Head for the week. DD chose not to go because the host kid and friends were known for wild partying. Instead, a smaller group went to Virginia Beach. |
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Post by fkawitchypea on Jan 21, 2021 18:21:52 GMT
We are waiting to see what graduation will be like. If things are better and we have an in person graduation and it's safe to travel, some family will come from out of town and we will have a small family gathering at my house for after graduation or the following day (I think ours is usually held at night indoors, last year it was outdoors during the day).
I also offered to take ds and a few of his friends to a beach house for a week after graduation. Again, if it's safe. It sucks that we really cannot plan because we don't know what it will be like in late June, whether graduation will be on the day it has been scheduled for or not. Last year due to changing covid regulations, graduation was held the 1st week in July.
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Post by withapea on Jan 21, 2021 18:34:09 GMT
I don’t know what we’re going to do. My dd would not want a party. She’s missed out on so much and because I’m high risk she’s been virtual for the last half of last year and all of this year. I think my mom is planning on taking her on a trip when travel is a thing again but I’m really at a loss of what to do for her. Our graduations have already been cancelled.
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Post by ntsf on Jan 21, 2021 18:49:16 GMT
covid is not going to be gone by then. we will not have everyone vaccinated. so parties are not going to be a good idea til at least the fall.. maybe later. skip the party, give her the money and do something in 2022.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 19:23:32 GMT
Until the pandemic is really under control, we will have just the 4 of us. On e it is really safe, we will hold the big family party.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 19:24:24 GMT
Oh and ours will be a drive thru graduation.
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Post by jewelie121 on Jan 21, 2021 20:50:46 GMT
I’m not sure what we’re going to do yet. My son goes to school 4 hours away from home (mostly virtual this year, unfortunately), and his friends are from all over the state. It will be pretty difficult to have a party with friends. Plus, we’re not sure yet if he’ll even have a graduation. I’m hopeful, but hesitant to start planning anything this early.
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julie5
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Post by julie5 on Jan 21, 2021 21:04:24 GMT
We didn’t have one last year. Dd was sent home I. March and never returned to school. Graduated in a parking lot. Life does go on.
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Post by Legacy Girl on Jan 21, 2021 23:23:56 GMT
I've been thinking about it a lot, and frankly, I just don't know. DD goes to a private school and we're about 30 min. away. Her friends live throughout the metro, and I'm not sure if they would drive to our house, even if I wanted to have it here. I've thought about a shelter at a park nearer to the school, but I hate to spend the money if COVID is still raging because I refuse to be a superspreader. Anyway, we're playing the waiting game right now. Frankly, I'll just be happy if she can safely travel to (and move into) the dorms at her university this fall.
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and yeah, I'd call it the party!
but because we cancelled everything last year, we thought this would be a nice opportunity for us to take DS (we'll allow him to bring a friend if there is someone he wants to ask) and go on a vacation too, as best we can in COVID times. 
but because we cancelled everything last year, we thought this would be a nice opportunity for us to take DS (we'll allow him to bring a friend if there is someone he wants to ask) and go on a vacation too, as best we can in COVID times. 
