Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

children at graduation ceremonies

18 replies

Concordia · 02/11/2011 12:11

Hi mumsnet. Just wanted to ask - looks like i will be graduating in December (woohoo - finally DrConcordia!).
DS will be 5 and a half by then. he's quite sensible at sitting still i think. considering taking him to graduation - otherwise just DH will be there. Do you think he will manage the ceremony or will DH end up taking him out? its years since i've been to one, remember them being quite tedious but also want him to part of my big day! (ps DD will be 3 will not be taking her! - just need to find some childcare in brum!)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MrsJRT · 02/11/2011 12:17

I didn't have DD (6.3 at the time) at my graduation although I would have liked for my own reasons for her to be part of my day. TBH the ceremony was long and boring for me, sitting through various old fogeys waffling on about academic achievement etc so gawd knows how she'd have sat through it. Plus my 'bit' only lasted about 30 seconds and they got my name wrong!

MrsJRT · 02/11/2011 12:18

Oh and congrats on graduating BTW.

Sirzy · 02/11/2011 12:19

I got bored at my own graduation, I wouldn't take a child. I am doing another degree now and Ds will be similar age to yours when I hopefully graduate and I plan on taking him out for a nice meal to be involved in celebrations rather than taking him to the ceremony

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

Original poster

Concordia · 02/11/2011 13:41

hmm, maybe i am being overoptimistic - thanks for your opinions. DS has been telling random people, mummy has been doing her doctorate, she is going to have a viva, (now passed) etc etc!!!

OP posts:

Bramshott · 02/11/2011 13:43

Can you get someone to mind them both nearby and then have a family celebration lunch afterwards? We did that when my stepdad got his PhD (although we were teens and didn't need the 'minding' part).

Congrats by the way!

Original poster

Concordia · 02/11/2011 13:52

yes i think one option is to try to find a childminder near the uni (it's 4 hours ish from our home - i was part time distance learner) just for a few hours and also have some time together that day.

OP posts:

Original poster

Concordia · 03/11/2011 16:02

Bump for any more experiences/ suggestions

OP posts:

Grumpla · 03/11/2011 16:06

Congratulations!

When my friend and I graduated we took her 4yearold son to the ceremony and he was fine, but was sat on the aisle near the back with a fully briefed brace of grandparents primed for a quick ejection! IIRC he had a new book to look at during the speeches. And lots of football and fuss outside during photos etc.

Can you get a third ticket and take along a parent / friend (or blag that he doesn't need a ticket as can sit on someone's knee?!?) to take him out if nec, that way your DH would still be there to see you get your degree if meltdown did occur?

Original poster

Concordia · 03/11/2011 19:18

hmmm, maybe it is possible. i think we may possibly have to take him because he is 5 a day nursery won't take him, and i'm a bit worried about leaving him with a childminder i've never met.... we can't leave him with someone at home because with the travel it would be a very long day - 7ish till 8pm ish i think and have no family who could do this.....

OP posts:

Original poster

Concordia · 03/11/2011 19:18

great to hear it can be done though grumpla!

OP posts:

noko · 03/11/2011 19:31

at our university, they only allow children from the age of 5 in graduation ceremony, but parents have to make sure that the child can stay still and behave.
i think you can bring three people, is it possible to find someone ( maybe a close friend) who will mind him during the ceremony.
my ds will be 5 in december so when i will graduate, fingers crossed, he will be 5 and half, and i am sure that he won't be there because sitting is like a punishment in his eyes.

Original poster

Concordia · 03/11/2011 21:09

it's two people at our uni, unless they have extra tickets. the main problem is the uni is nowhere near where i live so no friends nearby.
good point noko - i'll check with uni about ages allowed in ceremony. it could well be over 5 anyway!

OP posts:

hippoCritt · 06/11/2011 19:54

Congratulations!
I have experience of a 7 and 8 year old at graduation ceremony, they each took a bag with DS in if needed, raisins, drink etc. they were fine and watched entire ceremony, they did really well, GPs were there as back up.
I think he will be ok if prepared with some alternatives for him to look at if necessary, a film on iPod with headphones? It is a long time to sit and watch, my concern was they would disturb ceremony for others.

Original poster

Concordia · 06/11/2011 21:59

thanks hippCritt - like your name - yes, i think DH would have to take him out if he made any noise - and then might miss the crucial 2 seconds! Raisins, drink etc good idea....

OP posts:

Atwaroverscrabble · 07/11/2011 22:42

Our uni has a special family room with a video link for all the young kids... Definately worth asking at uni what the protocol is... Ds was 7 when i graduated from my bsc and sat nicely in main hall with my mum and then was 9 for my masters and sat again in main hall this time with dh(his step dad) both times he said it was boring but i know he will want to come if and when i complete my phd next year and he will be 13 then so prob really bored! Lol

slipperandpjsmum · 13/11/2011 10:39

I took my 14 year old ds with me but my others were alot younger and they would have been very bored. The service was around an hour and although I loved it my children would not have done, then I would have got stressed worried about the impact on everyone else as HippoCrit mentioned.

You can hire the cap and gown for a few days then he could see you wearing it at home and you could take some pics. You could even do a little ceremony of your own in the living room!

Congrats - I had a wonderful, wonderful day when I graduated hope you to do.

mummytime · 13/11/2011 11:02

We took our kids to my husbands MBA graduation, it was full of kids. But I haven't seen many kids at other graduations, I would check with the Uni.

HolofernesesHead · 22/11/2011 22:12

I am graduating very soon!

We are taking our two dc with us, but also both pairs of grandparents, my dh and my brother so they should be kept happy hopefully. Mine is just over an hour long and I'm figuring that they should be ok with that as long as we are relatively organised with books, snack (if allowed in) etc. Congrats Concordia!

Flip