Going to step-sons 8th grade "graduation". Help me.

[Exterous]

I find it nauseating that we have to celebrate the most minor accomplishments

I've seen bumper-stickers with "My kid got the attendance award for such-and-such middle school".

Congrats you literally got an award for showing up!

It's as relevant as high school graduation, or moreso since it represents 8 years versus 4. Personally I hate all graduation ceremonies. I can't believe how much of a big deal they make over high school graduation here in the US. Congratulations you've completed the minimum level of education needed to get a job.

Eh - the high school one I can see because you don't know when or even if you will see a lot of your HS friends again. Everything seems to be getting a bit out of hand in terms of parties though

 

[Rakehellion]

Is he a readheaded stepson?

 

[KDOG]

No. He's a sandy blonde like his mom.

I shudder to think what she'll do for his HS graduation - probably take a second mortgage on the house for a parade and blimp rental.

 

[surfsatwerk]

No. He's a sandy blonde like his mom.

I shudder to think what she'll do for his HS graduation - probably take a second mortgage on the house for a parade and blimp rental.

Well you married her. All things being equal is it really that big of a deal?

 

[KDOG]

In the grand scheme of things this one thing isn't a catastrophe - I was ranting about the whole "over celebrating every little thing" culture with this event being a prime example.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Perhaps now is a good time to have an uncomfortable argument with the wife? Just refrain from the personal attacks, and stop yelling once she is in tears, and maybe you'll come out of the argument in better shape then before.

Some folks just want to celebrate their kids instead of raising them

 

[surfsatwerk]

In the grand scheme of things this one thing isn't a catastrophe - I was ranting about the whole "over celebrating every little thing" culture with this event being a prime example.

For what it's worth I agree with you.

 

[sandorski]

The cost for getting a hooker for an 8th Grade Graduate is farkin ridiculous.

 

[DrunkenSano]

Sounds like kids are so damn dumb these days that not failing Junior High is something worth celebrating. Back in the day, if you failed 8th grade, you get the belt. No wonder kids are turning into giant entitled pussies.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Take it like a man, you whiny dolt.

You married her, knowing what she had with her - and, here you are losing your shit on how she treats her own flesh and blood.

Grind and bare it.

 

[Alienwho]

Is this stuff new? I'm 30 years old and never had any type of 'graduation' except for regular high school graduation. I remember in 6th grade we had a party/dance at the end of the year. Same for middle school. I don't get how you can have a graduation like it's an accomplishment for something that is so common denominator. Did you show up for school most days and turn in papers with your name correctly spelled on it? You'll graduate.

I agree with you though, really stupid, and the woman has got to be stupid for making such a big deal out of it. Maybe I'm broken though because I didn't even attend my own bachelor's graduation OR masters graduation because I felt like it was the schools last chance to scam me out of a few more hundred dollars.

 

[rh71]

Sounds like kids are so damn dumb these days that not failing Junior High is something worth celebrating. Back in the day, if you failed 8th grade, you get the belt. No wonder kids are turning into giant entitled pussies.

With Common Core being more prevalent, it is not so easy anymore. Have you seen the new math? You are marked wrong if you show the work "our way" despite a correct answer.

 

[OutHouse]

With Common Core being more prevalent,

just 2 more years and i will have no kids in high school and no more of this stupid shit. i cant wait.

 

[CLite]

/shrug, I had an 8th grade graduation ceremony in 1988, doesn't seem all that odd.

I had one in the mid 90's and I am equally confused by this thread. I honestly thought all 8th grades had one until reading the vitriol in this thread.

 

[SearchMaster]

My son had a 5th grade "graduation" ceremony at school. While I normally wouldn't mind going, his elementary school had this amazing ability to turn the smallest of events into a ridiculously long waste of time (without enough seating to hold all the parents and family, naturally).

It took over THREE hours to go through all the awards and procedurals at this thing, for a total of maybe 75 kids. And this school had at least 8 of these gatherings each year he was there, between the quarterly awards ceremonies, musical/drama presentations, etc. Each one was at least 1.5 hours by the time the principal would blather on endlessly and the teachers would describe how incredible the kids were. I hated how that school had absolutely no respect for anyone's time.

The only fun part for me was that, as we pulled up to the school with our son, he informs us "oh yeah, we were supposed to dress up for this". Most of the kids had suit/tie/dresses, and he was one of about 5 kids in shorts. She facepalmed every time his name was called to come up for an award...afterward, he asked if she got any pictures which of course she took none through embarrassment.

 

[cbrunny]

Not quite but he's 14 and can't make himself a sandwich.
His mother (my wife) really does stuff like this I think because she honestly wants to make him happy.
But yes he has had this sort of over indulgence his whole life. I fully expect him to not be able to function on his own when he's older.

It makes sense to me.

Father recognizes that his son needs him to show him how to be a man....

Mother recognizes that son is probably not happy & does stuff like this to make up for it....

Call me a sap, but I feel sorry for the kid. I'm sure he'd rather have a supportive father than a fun party.

 

[Slew Foot]

i had larger graduation from 8th grade than when I graduated residency.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I didn't have a graduation or grad party for anything other than hs/college and neither did my brother. My cousins (about 10 years younger) had parties for both high school & college, and it seems the "graduation" & party trend is starting earlier and earlier. Feels like a ploy cooked up by folks to sell more merchandise and the expectation of expensive gifts.

There was a official "graduation party" after high school, but that was mainly so the kids wouldn't get blasted and wrap their cars around a tree. It was an overnighter, you had to buy tickets and they had various activities set up in the high school gym. Totally skipped that and slept at home.

 

[Hacp]

Graduation party for 8th grade? Are you serious? When I graduated from college, I didn't even go to the ceremony let alone have a party. Graduation should be expected. No one should be celebrating that you've graduated. It should be : Ok you've graduated, where's your job?

 

[clamum]

I never had an eighth grade graduation and I'm 31. Thank christ, that's a bunch of fuckin crap. I'm sure we'll have 3rd and 4th grade graduations pretty soon at this rate.

 

[Legios]

Its the price you pay to get all up in the mom's guts.

 

[PowerEngineer]

In the grand scheme of things this one thing isn't a catastrophe - I was ranting about the whole "over celebrating every little thing" culture with this event being a prime example.

Mellowed a bit from your OP, which is a good thing.

I agree that our culture is tending toward more meaningless celebrations, however a graduation from grade/middle school is more of an accomplishment that just living long enough to get a year older. The pomp and ceremony may be worthwhile if it helps focuse his attention on high school being a big step up and that graduation his next goal.

You can live through it!

 

[fleshconsumed]

And did I tell you about the f'ing "money cake"? Yes, a @#%&%( MONEY CAKE. $200 worth of 1's rolled up tight in a 3 tier "cake" with ribbons etc.

How come no one is talking about the money cake? Who the hell does such a thing?

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

In the grand scheme of things this one thing isn't a catastrophe - I was ranting about the whole "over celebrating every little thing" culture with this event being a prime example.

You mean like the anniversary of your being expelled from a vaginal canal? Or the (fake) birthday of a mythological figure? Or the arbitrary celebration of the revolution of the Earth around the Sun?

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Hmmmmmm Ill concede that I have issues with the fact that he is a spoiled hellion, but this has more to do with the mentality of his mother and people like that. I see this alot even "preschool" graduations. Its just ridiculous.

Hey genius, the same trait that makes her spoil him is the same trait that makes her spoil you. Appreciate what you have, a decent family with a wife who is a good mother and probably pretty generous in the sack.