Grandparents and graduation

Yes, my parents and dh’s will come to graduation. Dh’s don’t come to everything and it hurts his feelings but he doesn’t say anything. I also leave it to him. I’m sorry you’re feeling bummed about their attitude. Perhaps you’re missing your parents more than just being bummed at his. I agree with you - I feel that if grandparents are able and available that they should want to go to these things that we feel are so important. Your dh’s parents obviously don’t feel the need. But they are the ones missing out. Congrats to your dd!

Ours is held in our small town arena. Floor seats have a limit, then the stands are open. Both our parents were* coming and sitting on the floor. Our siblings and their kids are sitting in the stands. Our grad was tonight. *My mother in law passed away suddenly last week, so my SIL sat with my FIL at the supper.

I’m a grandma and just got home from my grandson’s graduation. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

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My grandparents attended my sister’s high school graduation but left for a European vacation the day of mine. Caused a huge right with my mother, when they said college was the only one that mattered. They did show up for my college graduation though. Mother would have been ballistic if they hadn’t.

We didn’t invite grandparents or any extended family to any of our three dd’s graduations. Dh and I went along with two siblings for each dd. Youngest dd dd invite her boyfriend (went to a different high school) and he sat with us.

My own dad didn’t attend my graduation (and he worked at the school). My parents were divorced (they got along fine so that wasn’t the issue). My dad stopped by my house while I was getting ready for graduation to tell me he wasn’t going to make it becadue he was going to take his girlfriend’s son fishing. I was valedictorian and was awarded 11 scholarships at graduation. It was a small town and obvious he wasn’t there. Sorry, I guess I’m still a little bitter!

No grandparents attended my graduations (hs & college) but they did attend my older brother's hs and my younger sister's hs & college. Middle child, not so much.
Everyone lived locally and carpooled... actually my paternal grandparents lived 3 houses from us.
Honestly, it did hurt my feelings as a child/young adult.

My son just graduated last week and we live 1000 miles from our families. Both grandmothers attended. Both grandfathers did not attend, each for different reasons. It was all fine.

I had one grandparent left when I graduated from high school, and I think she came for my graduation. If not, it was because she was in her late 70s, lived halfway across the country from us, and wasn't well enough to make the long bus trip (she didn't like to fly),

Yes, they do. College graduation too. My mom and her husband and my dad and his wife flew to VA for one and drove to PA for another.

My maternal grandparents came to my high school graduation, but my paternal ones did not. It wasn't really surprising since I was not a favored grandchild on that side of the family. No grandparent attended my college graduation.

My mom is the only grandparent that my boys have left. She came to my oldest ds high school graduation. Two years later for youngest son's ceremony she had a migraine all week and had to miss it. Turns out it wasn't a migraine but a stroke. The stroke was in her occipital lobe of the brain and did not exhibit normal stroke symptoms. We are so thankful there was not a lot of lasting damage since she did not get treatment right away for it. She really regrets missing his graduation. We bought the DVD so that she could watch it later.

Graduation ceremonies are boring but they are such an important milestone in a person's life. I hate that most schools have to issue a limited number of tickets. For some kids this ceremony is the last big thing in their life and they just barely achieved it. They deserve to have all the people they want there to celebrate.

Same here. My niece is graduating tomorrow. My sister's in-laws are coming from out of state, but there are not enough tix for my family to go as well. Plus, my niece is one of 1,000 kids graduating (literally - there are about 4,500 kids in the school) and their last name starts with a V. I honestly do not want to sit through watching 950 kids' names called before seeing her for 3 seconds from the back of an auditorium. My sister is having a family/friends party tonight.

However, OP, this is clearly an emotional issue for you. I hope your DH can convince at least one parent to come if it means a lot to you and your DD.

When I graduated both my grandfather's and my step-grandfather had been dead for years. My paternal grandmother was in an nursing home. My maternal grandmother never attended anything involving her grandchildren.

My mother attended my children's graduation. My father had died a few years earlier. Dh's parents were out of our life by that time and were not invited.


ETA: We attended the grandchildren's graduation last year. 

As a teacher, I have been invited to over 20 graduations. I go to each one. Each graduating class votes for a teacher from each elementary school to sit on the stage. It really is an honor. Watching graduations up close at the front of the venue is so much better than seeing it from far away. Kids are beaming and watching them in line ready to go on stage is something I won't forget. It is one of the first big passages to adulthood and I see it completely different from my graduation. I also love to watch the ladies wear 6 inch heels walk across the stage and most of them look a little like new born deer trying to walk for the first time.

I'm honestly surprised grandparents are expected / invited to come to graduation ceremonies.

None of my grandparents came to me or my sister's HS graduation, and they sure as heck didn't drive 4 hours to go to my college graduation! HS had tickets and limited seating. I'm sure they did come to my graduation party, though- if I had one. I don't remember.

I'm sure I won't invite them to my kids' graduations. It probably won't even occur to me.

No. None of my grandparents came. We were only given 4 tickets per family. As it was, my parents could only bring 2 of my siblings. The other 2 had to stay home.