# There are three major events you don't want to be absent for in your child's life. What are they? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2016, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-three-major-events-you-dont-want-to-be-absent-for-in-your-childs-life-what-are-they/753861 "2016-05-04T08:10:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-three-major-events-you-dont-want-to-be-absent-for-in-your-childs-life-what-are-they/753861/21 "2016-05-04T22:36:11Z")
graduation from BCT wedding criminal trial no wait, graduation from high school no, 12th birthday wedding aaaaand either criminal trial or graduation from basic training, which ever of those two happens first. too many important events ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-three-major-events-you-dont-want-to-be-absent-for-in-your-childs-life-what-are-they/753861/22 "2016-05-05T01:35:41Z")
> [@](#): > > The first time he loses his virginity How many parents are actually present at this event? And I too want to know how he manages to do it more than once. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-three-major-events-you-dont-want-to-be-absent-for-in-your-childs-life-what-are-they/753861/23 "2016-05-05T02:05:19Z")
According to my adult son, it was the night we spent hours in the E.R. when he broke his wrist, which meant he’d have to drop off the golf team. Instead of trying to tell him it wasn’t a big deal, I let him talk it out all night. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-three-major-events-you-dont-want-to-be-absent-for-in-your-childs-life-what-are-they/753861/24 "2016-05-05T02:21:39Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Conception > Sentencing > Death It’s every parents dream to outlive their child. ---
**Author:** ![CatastrophicFailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@CatastrophicFailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatastrophicFailure)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-three-major-events-you-dont-want-to-be-absent-for-in-your-childs-life-what-are-they/753861/25 "2016-05-05T02:26:06Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I don’t think any of the major events are “musts” > > Mine may choose to get married halfway round the world in a personal ceremony, absolutely their choice. I definitely don’t need to be there at grandchild births. I love my own family deeply but they were all hundreds of miles away when my kids were born and I’m glad they were. > > No, the only definite thing not to miss is the event that your _child_ does not want you to miss. > They need to live their lives for them, not me. The best thing I can do is make my presence _always_ an option but only _ever_ an option. If they need me, I’ll be there but they never need to worry about it being an obligation. I agree with this. On a side note, I realized reading this that I am a biological mother who “missed” my first child’s birth. I had to have an emergency c-section under general anesthesia, and then wasn’t lucid enough to see her for over 24 hours, due to the medication they had me on. The truth is, sometimes you can’t be there for these things, no matter how hard you try. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-three-major-events-you-dont-want-to-be-absent-for-in-your-childs-life-what-are-they/753861/26 "2016-05-05T17:15:55Z")
In no particular order: - major league debut - 1st stadium concert - Presidential inauguration What can I say, I have talented kids. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-three-major-events-you-dont-want-to-be-absent-for-in-your-childs-life-what-are-they/753861.md?page=1)