To think this is a strange attitude from a ‘professional’.

[Stuckinthemiddlewithhugh]

Just graduated. First. Delighted, also nominated for a special award for writing…
ceremony booked for first day of holidays and my childminder is on holiday. We’re pretty much no contact or Xmas only with the entire family and I’ve not made any friends in this area/ couldn’t name a single parent at the school even. I’m just not very chatty/ can’t be bothered/ to busy trying to survive work and Uni etc .
so I decline the invitation at first - politely of course. The chap in the uni awards department then asks why I’m not going. I explain about having DS all day, chap says I can bring him, oh great, I shop online for a smart outfit for him and look for something fun nearby we could do afterwards. I’m then emailed again to push to buy tickets and hire gown etc. I decline the gown, explain I don’t want photos and the attire’s not mandatory. Offer to pay for single ticket for DS ( I’m free). Chap then sends a ridiculously long and weirdly worded email ( AI generated perhaps?)explaining to me that I need to purchase at least two tickets and bring another adult else DS can’t go. If I had another adult I could ask I would get them to watch DS wouldn’t I , FFS? Not sit through hours in a stuffy hall 🤦‍♀️
anyway this conversation was on my birthday, which I was spending alone with DS because that’s the reality of my life and this strange man is trying to tell me everyone has a friggin village.
anyway, I’ve told them I’m not bothered. The whole thing smacks of a money spinning exercise and if it’s anything like our ‘show’ it’ll be chaotic and poorly organised.
We’re off to the zoo instead.
the university is a joke anyway. I didn’t even bother to attend for two years of the three, I just taught myself and submitted work as if it were an online degree. Because there was absolutely nothing to gain from being there and the course and lectures were shit. WhatsApp group literally full of complaints and jokes about how awful it is.
Post graduate offer looks like a much better place. Maybe I’ll got to that ceremony. But this weird attitude from the awards office really just ices the cake of 3 years of poor experience and wishing I’d just done more research before enrolling. So even if I had another adult to come I’m not sure I’d want to give them my money now anyway!
Am I being stroppy? Or can you see my point?

Congratulations on your achievement OP, I'm sure your son is very proud of you! You've made the sensible decision to return the clothes and not attend graduation, I would try to draw a line under this now and step away from this thread as its not likely to help your wellbeing.

I hope you and your son can find another way to celebrate when you're ready, a first is a wonderful achievement no matter how shambolic the institution - to have achieved this against the backdrop of the trafficking you have experienced is even more impressive. Please know that there is some random woman on the Internet who is delighted for you and wishing you and your son nothing but positivity, health and happiness for the future 💐

@BrassOlive thank you. I continue to do my best and so does my son. I’m working very hard on my postgrad now. My son continues to be an amazing young man. We are a team now.

I've seen people walk across the stage with their children. It's rare but I've seen it.

I've never been to any of my own graduations, generally for family reasons.