Visiting friends or nursery graduation?

[Notlostjustexploring]

In a couple of weeks some close friends are visiting, from a fair distance, with their children for the weekend. However, nursery have booked a "nursery graduation" for the Saturday morning.

Friends visiting has been planned for months, nursery only notified us the beginning of July.

But it is only 2 hours on a Saturday morning.

I'm planning for my son to miss it, and have planned and booked a day out for both families. And he doesn't really understand that it's a "thing" that he's missing, only that it's a party at nursery and when asked he said he'd prefer to play with his visiting friends. And he's still at nursery for another 6 weeks anyway.

So really, I think I'm possibly just feeling misplaced guilt over my son missing his nursery graduation? Or am I? So basically I feel like I need a fresh perspective!!

So:

YANBU: crack on with your day out with friends. Don't worry about it. Nursery graduations are overrated

YABU: You are a terrible mother, how could you even consider having your son miss such a pivotal moment in his life?

What the hell is a nursery graduation? Surely the kids didn't achieve much apart from just age? Surely this will just lead to them expecting reward for the tiniest thing... like aging? Kinda of dilutes the meaning for people who actually graduate from something like university.

For those saying its new... I have seen photos of my cousins nursery graduation... and they are now 30years old!

But yanbu. They don't really understand the fuss anyway.

Definitely see your friends!

My dd (now 9) graduated from nursery. There's a photo of her with the cap and gown on. She had no idea what was going on. There was no event for parents. It sounds a bit forced really. I'd happily go to child centered events like little singalongs but wouldn't worry about a graduation!

I have loads of precious memories of nursery years without that

Feeling robbed of a Graduation (Scotland didn't allow them indoors or out this year) I'd say see if you can rearrange the day out.

The Graduations are definitely for the parents and a chance to thank the staff etc. Especially for kids in private nursery who have been there since they were tiny babies 👶 all ready for school!

But I'd definitely want a picture in their gown.

I'd be really frustrated if I'd driven over to see friends and then they went out for 2 hours. It's pointless really