To Share Graduation

[EC22]

My son finishes his degree next year and I am currently post grad at the same university, in the same field/ faculty, so our graduations will be during the same ceremony.

Part of me thinks it’d be lovely to share the day, get a nice pic together, meal afterwords with family etc
But I’m also thinking I should just graduate in abstentia so as to not steal his thunder, I have, of course, graduated before, even if it was many moons ago.

I don’t think my son would mind either way, but I’m not sure what would be best.

Thoughts?
YABU- graduate together
YANBU- it’s not about you!

Could you defer your graduation to the next ceremony?

Why don’t you ask him? He may think it would be lovely to graduate with you. Don’t absent yourself! You don’t have to overshadow him, if you’re worried about it just celebrate separately. You deserve your graduation too OP!

Not that I’m saying that you should, btw! Just that it’s usually an option, and if you feel that two separate celebrations are in order, then this would be a solution.

That might be an awkward one for him to answer truthfully and put him on the spot. I think this is one that mum has to decide by herself and I think her idea about graduating in absentia would be the best call.

I think you could graduate at the same time - will you be at the same ceremony though? Certainly make him the focus, and take him out for dinner or whatever to celebrate his success, but you wearing a gown too for a short time shouldn't be too much. If he likes the limelight most uni newsletters/SM would LOVE a story of mum and child graduating together....

I’m not sure if that would be an option but I probably would prefer to graduate alongside my class, which will be same day.

im thinking I could compromise n do ceremony but get the gown off etc after photos, but son keeps his on when we go for meal.

Even as I’m typing I know I’m overthinking and making a big deal of it.