This year we’ve been invited to two graduation parties of different neighbors’ children. One was sent in the mail and looked like a really fancy wedding invitation; the other was a one sheet xerox copy and handed to Eddie while he was mowing the lawn. Both sound like open house events that are scheduled for 3 hours.
I’ve got a couple of questions- how common are graduation open houses? Are we supposed to bring a gift? What is an appropriate gift? Someone told me you’re supposed to bring money in an envelope??? We really don’t know these kids, except to see them around the neighborhood and exchange social chit chat. The one kid’s parents are extremely well off and it seems weird to me to be slipping him $25. Does anyone else have experience with this phenomenon? Is it considered bad form to come and wish these kids well and leave without giving them something? Does anyone else think the whole idea is kind of tacky?
Sounds kinda tacky to me. Unless you’re good friends with the parents, why bother attending? I’ve never been invited to a graduation party, but that’s how I’d decide whether to attend or not.
Thanks for the input. I don’t want to go but I also don’t want to alienate the neighbors. May be we’ll just run away for the weekend, jeesh! I’m such a coward.
We were invited to several grad party open houses this year.
(However, they were all friends, one of them quite close.)
To be fair, maybe the parents were relieved/happy/proud that their kid was graduating, and just felt like maybe they should invite the neighbors.
You don’t have to write out a check for $25. If you just want to come by with a card, that’s okay. With one kid, we just gave her movie gift certificates, which she seemed to like.
I have been wondering about the graduation party custom. It wasn’t done when I was in high school. I was invited to two last summer and I just didn’t go and didn’t R.S.V.P. Of course, I felt terrible about it. I didn’t know the kids at all, just the parents.
This year I have been invited to one where I have seen the kid twice, maybe. Never talked to him. I work with the parent, sort of. I really don’t want to go, but feel I have to. My husband can’t stand her husband, so he’s definintely not going… I was thinking $15. I mean, really. He’s joining the Army.
What’s the point? It’s nothing special. I mean, it is to the graduate and it is a big leap in life, but most kids do graduate, so their kid is nothing special. Just a plot to get money, that’s all.