Here we are again. It’s time to plan another homeschool high school graduation!
First item on the agenda? Cry a few tears.
This is the second time we’ve launched a great kid from our home. While I’ve already graduated one kid and have experienced so much delight that comes with having an adult child, I still reserve the right to cry again this time. These are tears of joy and gratitude, you can be sure. When I think of all God has done to bring us to this place and to grow our sons into men, the tears come. Why hold back? Tears are a gift.
Many people ask me, “How do you do a homeschool high school graduation?” No caps and gowns, no valedictorian address, no walk across the stage. What does a homeschool high school graduation look like, anyway?
My answer: Your homeschool high school graduation can be whatever you want it to be! Each child and family is different. One of the perks of homeschooling is choosing to educate your kids in whatever ways work best for your family. The same is true for graduation!
Today I’ll share what we’ve chosen to do for our sons as we celebrate the end of their high school career.
How Our Family Does Homeschool High School Graduation
- We invite grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins to join us for a weekend in our home. We’d invite every single person we know and love, but only so many people fit in our living room. The big reception comes later (see #10).
- Saturday at noon we enjoy a nice meal in our home with our guests, the menu of which is chosen by the graduate.
- After we eat our graduate’s special meal, we pull chairs into the living room for our time of celebration.
- In true Coppinger fashion, we share a fun video that our boys have put together on behalf of the graduate. :)
- Each person then shares a special word of encouragement and offers a blessing to the graduate. There are not many dry eyes during this special time. Family members who live too far to join us for this send emails that we read at this time so that their words can be heard too. Did I mention that there are tears?
- Matt and I are the last to share our words of love and blessing to our graduate. I can’t talk and cry at the same time, so I write mine out and make Matt read it while I boo-hoo beside him. What can I say?
- We all gather around our graduate and say a prayer of blessing over him.
- Matt and I present him with a diploma that we’ve printed and framed.
- We all share a special dessert that has been chosen by the graduate.
- Sunday afternoon we have a big graduation reception at our church fellowship hall in which extended family and friends have been invited to come celebrate.
It is a full weekend of joy, you can be sure! I learned last time around that I must be very organized in order to pull off such a big weekend full of company, food, and a big reception. Thankfully, when family is here to visit, many pitch in to help as needed. I try to keep food as simple as possible, but still, with many to feed and a party to execute, even the simplest of plans takes hard work.
How to you do high school graduation?
If you are a homeschool family, I’d love to hear how you do high school graduation at your house. And whether you homeschool or not, I’d love to hear how you honor your graduates. Please pass the kleenex.