Preschool graduation party? WTF

[Exterous]

Since we don't have kids we have largely been spared the apparent absurdities that come along with parenting in todays world (at least outside of my infrequent facebook checking)

Sadly that blissful bubble of ignorance was abruptly shattered on Saturday when a somewhat fancy invitation to a Pre-schooler's graduation party arrived in the mail. It only got worse from there. I was commiserating with some spawner friends of ours and it turns out that, not only is this a thing, but people actually bring gifts for the graduant! Some preschools even require you buy a tiny graduation gown and cap for their ceremony

Fortunately we don't actually know these people very well so we can safely decline. For some strange reason my wife wouldn't let me write "Hahaha - fuck no!" on the RSVP card. (No stamp? Cheap bastards but I would spent a few cents to send it back with what I consider a proper response)

I'm not even sure what gift I would get a small human as a reward for consistently existing at a place they were not given a choice to be at

 

[Anubis]

welcome to the new America

and by new, I mean this has been happening for at least 10 years

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Any excuse for a party. Why look at it as some kind of obligation or manufactured event for a gift grab? When someone invites you over, don't you usually bring something with? Get out of your basement once in a while.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

My 9 year-old niece was recently inducted into National Honor Society - apparently they have a junior honor society for grade school kids now. WTF

 

[luv2liv]

anything to squeeze money out of people.
i dont fall for it. didnt even went to any of my own graduation. instead of the cap/gown/ceremony, i took the money and went out for a mini vacation to celebrate.
people like my wife would absolutely fall for these preschool ceremonies.

 

[waggy]

LOL and here i was laughing at people having huge parties for 8th grade graduation.

 

[Jeraden]

My preschooler had his graduation from preschool last week. They had a little ceremony in the preschool. It was cute. And he was all excited about it too, he can't wait to start kindergarten in the fall. While I didn't have some huge party for him or anything, his grandma came up to visit and attend it as well. And I got him a present for it also. So while it may seem silly, it's good when kids are excited about school. Throwing some huge party seems a bit overboard, and I don't know your relationship to that family, but I don't think it's something to really make fun of. Seems most appropriate to invite other families with kids, as it's really just an excuse to get the kids to play together and have fun. I don't think I'd expect any presents if I held such a party, he'd be happy just having other kids over to play with.

 

[Exterous]

welcome to the new America

and by new, I mean this has been happening for at least 10 years

I prefer my bubble

Any excuse for a party. Why look at it as some kind of obligation or manufactured event for a gift grab? When someone invites you over, don't you usually bring something with? Get out of your basement once in a while.

Because it is a gift grab? Esp for these people. "Hey - we were never really close and haven't seen each other for years but please come over with a gift for my child." A small party is one thing but kids are having graduation ceremonies every couple of years now. Looks like Pre-school, kindergarden, 1st grade, 5th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade are all celebration years now. Personally that seems like a cheapening of the more traditional graduation levels

But sure, thinking its absurd to have a preschool graduation party and the trend of graduation gifts at said parties obviously means I live in a basement.

 

[vi edit]

Even better than that is the "Potty Party". It's the party and award presentation for when a kid no longer has to wear diapers.

Or going even further than that...baby showers have been a "thing" for ever. But now they have "reveal" parties where they announce the baby gender with things like secret cakes that you cut open and are either pink or blue inside depending on if it's a boy or girl.

Yeah. And we wonder why our kids grow up entitled.

 

[Artdeco]

Bring a big trophy for the kid, that seems to be a thing too.

xxxx xxxx
Successful Participation in PreSchool
(Eating glue runner up)

 

[pete6032]

When kids are that age this is more about the parents wanting an excuse to hang out with other parents who have kids of the same age. It's just as much, if not more, about socializing for the adults than it is recognizing the child. Don't take it so seriously.

 

[tynopik]

Even better than that is the "Potty Party". It's the party and award presentation for when a kid no longer has to wear diapers.

is that better or worse than a moon party?

 

[gorcorps]

Any excuse for a party. Why look at it as some kind of obligation or manufactured event for a gift grab? When someone invites you over, don't you usually bring something with? Get out of your basement once in a while.

Bingo

I wouldn't mind using it as an excuse to have people over if I felt like hosting something. I certainly wouldn't expect or even want gifts for such a thing, but an excuse to have family and friends over isn't a bad thing.

 

[ControlD]

My 9 year-old niece was recently inducted into National Honor Society - apparently they have a junior honor society for grade school kids now. WTF

That is probably NEHS (National Elementary Honor Society) rather than NHS.

According to the NHS eligibility requirements, only students in grade 10-12 are able to become members.

I guess I don't have a problem acknowledging good students earlier than the 10th grade. I'm sure there are plenty of sports awards that start at about the time a child starts to walk.

 

[Jodell88]

The only graduation I had was University.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I guess I don't have a problem acknowledging good students earlier than the 10th grade. I'm sure there are plenty of sports awards that start at about the time a child starts to walk.

Yeah, that's a good point.

 

[dullard]

Option A: Someone has a fun party celebrating ____. You go, bring a gift if you choose ($10 bottle of wine, $4 flowering plant, or $7 toy depending on the occasion), get a free meal with friends and family, and enjoy your weekend.

Option B: You stay at home and complain online.



Regardless of how silly and stupid a preschool graduation idea is, I'll choose option A any day.

 

[JM Aggie08]

The continuous praise of mediocrity absolutely kills me. This is why few people are truly excellent.

 

[vi edit]

Option A: Someone has a fun party celebrating ____. You go, bring a gift if you choose ($10 bottle of wine, $4 flowering plant, or $7 toy depending on the occasion), get a free meal with friends and family, and enjoy your weekend.

Option B: You stay at home and complain online.



Regardless of how silly and stupid a preschool graduation idea is, I'll choose option A any day.

I guess I just don't need a reason to celebrate. It's usually a "hey, want to let the kids run around the yard for a couple hours while we hide inside and eat chips and salsa and drink a couple beers then throw something on the grill " gathering.

 

[dullard]

I guess I just don't need a reason to celebrate. It's usually a "hey, want to let the kids run around the yard for a couple hours while we hide inside and eat chips and salsa and drink a couple beers then throw something on the grill " gathering.

Perfect. Go, have fun, but why stay at home and complain online like the OP?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

welcome to the new America

and by new, I mean this has been happening for at least 10 years

10 years? Since at least 1987.

 

[thesmokingman]

Since we don't have kids we have largely been spared the apparent absurdities that come along with parenting in todays world (at least outside of my infrequent facebook checking)

Sadly that blissful bubble of ignorance was abruptly shattered on Saturday when a somewhat fancy invitation to a Pre-schooler's graduation party arrived in the mail. It only got worse from there. I was commiserating with some spawner friends of ours and it turns out that, not only is this a thing, but people actually bring gifts for the graduant! Some preschools even require you buy a tiny graduation gown and cap for their ceremony

Fortunately we don't actually know these people very well so we can safely decline. For some strange reason my wife wouldn't let me write "Hahaha - fuck no!" on the RSVP card. (No stamp? Cheap bastards but I would spent a few cents to send it back with what I consider a proper response)

I'm not even sure what gift I would get a small human as a reward for consistently existing at a place they were not given a choice to be at

Don't you have better things to complain about than preschoolers?

 

[NesuD]

They only did graduation ceremonies for High School and College in my day. It isn't really possible to fail at Pre-School so I have trouble understanding a celebration of success for something that can't be failed. I gotta believe it is without a doubt for the parents benefit as no real benefit exists for the child.

 

[Anubis]

10 years? Since at least 1987.

shit really? I was 6 in 87 and I don't remember anyone having a "graduation party" for anything besides HS and College

 

[Anubis]

They only did graduation ceremonies for High School and College in my day. It isn't really possible to fail at Pre-School so I have trouble understanding a celebration of success for something that can't be failed. I gotta believe it is without a doubt for the parents benefit as no real benefit exists for the child.

Fail not really, but some kids are kept in pre school an extre a year because they are not ready to start school. this isn't normally because they are dumb, its normally because they are just unruly and not ready to sit down and learn in a classroom

generally happens to those who's birthdays are close to the age cutoff so they are would be at the young end of the spectrum for starting