Graduation is in the air... and the set up begins...

It is the month of graduations for high and college and the month in which we begin the set up of these poor graduates for a life of expectations of such celebration for each milestone in their life going forward.

Graduation is fun! The cords, the gowns, the hats, the family and the fanfair. It is all fun and yet, it sends the message that the rest of life is going to be filled with such celebration. Do we wonder why when these folks join the work force that they become disspointed at the lack of reward and recognition that occurs at both minor and major milestones?

If we consider the fact that we bring in family and friends to celebrate years of book learning as if this is the pinnacle of one's life at the ripe old age of 18 or 21, what do we do when one of these young ones achieves the learning of life that doesn't come from a book? When one learns about true diversity, what do we do? When one learns about communication or emotional intelligence, what do we do? When one learns true confidence and belief in oneself no matter what, what do we do? When one learns what being a partner is about, what do we do? When one learns that parenting is a gift of experience and commitment, what do we do? When one learns that the world does not in fact rotate around oneself, what do we do?

I am not suggesting that we diminish the graduation celebrations at all. I am merely hoping that we realize the stage we are setting and the challenges this could create further down the road for comparitive milestones that are celebrated in less than grand fashion. I mean really, do they call your name in front of all you know and give you more than a tie tack when you have worked somewhere and contributed half your life for twenty years? Likely not.

Until we have the privilege of meeting in person...