My daughter just called and said that Louisiana State University is not having a graduation ceremony this year due to coronavirus.

Thanks, Shell

Yes, I am thinking about it. I definitely want some remembrance of her happy occasion. Just seems so odd right now.

I do love to cook. I cooked so much for mom everyday that this year with mom no longer living in my house, we went out to a restaurant for Christmas Eve for dinner, then attended Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. It was such a refreshing change! So, I don’t know if I want to cook or go out.

My daughter is so funny! Her boyfriend is the cook! She can cook a little. She helped me cook at home but he loves cooking and cooks for her! He’s a sweetheart. He treats my daughter well, unlike the jerk she was with before him. Thank God, she broke up with him. This guy is a good match for my daughter.

Karsten,

Apology accepted. As I said, I have a sense of humor. I love to laugh. Laughter is good for the soul. I appreciate comic relief. I truly do but the timing was off for me.

I took care of my dad until he died, my brother as well. I took care of my mom until I burned out. I missed out on a lot of my children’s lives. Would I do it again? I don’t know.

All I can say is that I felt it was the right choice at the time. Daddy had a heart condition and a stroke. I adored my father. His outlook was vastly different from mom who is a perfectionist.

My brother had many complications in his life. Eventually I had to walk away. He made my life hell. I truly tried to help him. He refused all of my attempts to get him involved in a drug rehab facility. He died with HepC. I did go to see him in hospice before he died.

Mom lost everything is Hurricane Katrina. What was I supposed to do? It was an emergency situation where my mom who was suffering with Parkinson’s disease and was homeless and too old to rebuild her home, so I took her into my home where she remained for 15 years. In the beginning it wasn’t so bad but as time and her disease progressed all of us felt the effects.

I became extremely isolated, not being able to fully participate in my family’s lives or the outside world.

My life was fully immersed in caring for my mom. Depression and anxiety set in. I listened to the good people on this forum who told me to set boundaries. Mom did not handle that well and spoke badly of me to my brothers.

My brothers never helped me. They criticized me horribly. Often times those who don’t help criticize the most. Sorry, I cannot respect someone who has never walked in my shoes, then has the gall to criticize.

It’s interesting because my mom’s doctors praised the care that I gave to mom. My doctors told me that I was neglecting my own needs and I was paying a price for it.

I had enough and told my mom to leave and told my ‘know it all’ brother that since he felt that I was wrong and he was right that he could take over.

In spite of the frustration and pain, I miss my family but I don’t miss the agony. I had to go no contact for my own protection and survival and I want nothing more than to live my remaining years on earth in peace.

Trust me, I am telling you the condensed version of the heartache I have endured so forgive me if I am overly sensitive to anyone who annoys me.

I don’t believe in holding grudges though. I forgive and move on. I have learned to cut toxic people out of my life. That doesn’t mean that I don’t care about them as human beings. I am simply making a choice not to have certain people be a part of my life due to valid reasons.

I have a good support system in place, a wonderful husband and daughters, friends, my faith and a therapist and that helps tremendously. I am grateful for all that is good in my life.

I was so looking forward to my daughter’s graduation because I did not get to visit her in Baton Rouge. Yes, she did visit us in New Orleans whenever she could but she has school and a job.

My daughter studies hard and is on the dean’s list and she could not visit as often as she would have like to. LSU has a rigorous academic program being our flagship school. Anyone that truly knows LSU knows it is more than football.

Do you know why Alabama and LSU are arch enemies? Bama’s coach used to be a coach at LSU and the rivalry began. Bama’s coach is fantastic! They beat LSU tons of times. We beat them this year with Coach O!

Anyway...sorry to ramble. I hope that you can appreciate my perspective on this situation. It’s been difficult and having a happy occasion like my daughter’s graduation to look forward to was nice. So, it was a huge disappointment for all of us. 😔.

My mom has only been out of my home for a few months.

NHWM, yes, I was joking of course and sorry if it went too far. I am sure your daughter is very bright and worthy and it is too bad about lack of ceremony.

Amongst my group of friends, we often joke with each other about the colleges they came from, sort of a jocular thing by guys I guess but it probably doesn't work on this forum.

I guess when you have good football teams, thats what people think about in reference to a college. Kind of like the line in Forrest Gump, after four years of playing football he got a college degree. (I think that was LSU enemy Alabama)

All ski resorts have been shut down for the next week on order from the governor. All Washington D.C. attractions also shut down. And spring breaks start this next week.

When I first heard about the t.p hoarding I wondered, cynically, what in the world?! Are people using it for masks? 😄

NHWM,

I am sorry to hear that your daughter will not be able to do the graduation ceremony. I know she and you were looking forward to this, but if it is any help I didn't do any of my graduations ceremony for my degrees. I am good with that; however, I do understand that some people need/want that 'right of passages' and your daughter (I am sure who worked very hard) should have a graduation ceremony. But as you know everything that has big crowds has been canceled. Have you thought about doing something super nice for her? Maybe making her favorite meal? Or buying something to give her? Just a thought!

In the south people hug and kiss everyone! So, Lord help us if our small number of cases grow much larger. So yeah, all that hugging at the graduation ceremony would be bad in spreading germs.

I hope people are being respectful to one another about not hugging and shaking hands. I know one woman who get upset if people don’t hug her. She’s my friend’s mom. She’s sort of crazy. I ignore her.

I have NEVER liked buffet lines. I am too much of a germ freak to eat from a buffet and I definitely understand places like the casinos in Las Vegas shutting down their buffets.

I don’t eat enough food to justify eating at a buffet. I actually get sick when I watch people eat like gluttons. I can’t watch. We have jazz brunch here in New Orleans and I love the jazz, but I order from the menu and leave the buffet alone.

Tulane University here in New Orleans has been asked to do a study at their primate center to see how the disease spreads. So, we shall see what the study reveals. Since this is a new virus research is needed to determine all the facts.

I do feel people have to be cautious but this widespread panic is going overboard in certain cases. No one needs to empty the shelves from grocery stores.

Sick of stupid autocorrect typing things incorrectly, so I retype it correctly. For some reason the edits don’t go through. Oh well...

Gershun,

Yes, we all understand the ‘safety reasons’ for all of this but it’s wrecking havoc in certain areas.

Sorry about your hockey team. I don’t know much about hockey. I know there is a huge following with tons of fans. We follow football here. I like baseball and basketball too.

This virus is causing cancellations with all sorts of things. It’s crazy!

I am glad this virus wasn’t around for football season at my daughter’s school. This was their year! The school has a great coach! The quarterback, Burrow was amazing! That kid ended up being a huge loss for Ohio when they tossed him aside but, hey we scored big! LSU went undefeated and won the national championship! Geaux 🐅 Tigers!

Graduation would have been so awesome to see this year! What a year for LSU! It’s a great school and such a shame they won’t have a traditional graduation for the students.

A little off topic but the professional hockey league has suspended hockey and possibly will cancel completely. Our Canucks had a good chance this year of making the playoffs for the first time in five years. Now its possible that the season will be forfeited. I'm a huge hockey fan and was so looking forward to it.😟

Sorry NHWM about the whole graduation thing. This virus sucks!

Thanks so much, Send

She has a flight scheduled for Denver in June to start interviewing after she gets her diploma in the mail. They did invite the May graduating class to participate in a future graduation but she doesn’t know if she can participate then. Who knows? Like GA, wait and see.

Geeeez, it stuns me, Sendhelp to think about it. She’s receiving her diploma in the mail instead of walking in a cap and gown. I’m sad.

So sorry about your son. Yeah, it’s closure. She worked hard. She wants the traditional cap and gown ceremony!

Thanks River and MM. I appreciate it. Means a lot that people are so comforting at a time like this.

I know graduation is special for all parents but because I was primary caregiver to my mom for so long I missed out on so much with my kids.

My kids were understanding about it but it’s one of my biggest regrets in life. When my daughters told me that they would care for me like I did their grandma it upset me. I told them I did not expect that from them and that I wanted them to enjoy their lives.

I get hit by emotions that are hard to cope with at times but I will make it. I always have. I have a good support system in place. That helps.

The traditional graduation ceremony really does matter!
That is disappointing, NHWM. Sorry for your disappointment.

When my son was needing to complete one class in summer high school, he was still able to go through the ceremony and receive a "fake" diploma. He did, but to this day, when a graduation ceremony comes up, or the topic, he says "I didn't really graduate."
This has stayed with him into adulthood.

You can make a big deal over it, with friends gathering in cap & gown on the beach somewhere, in late Spring. After the threat of the virus passes. Looking forward to a good outcome. If precautions are taken now, the spread will stop.
I do like the idea of the professional photos.

Maybe LSU can have an extra ceremony for next year's graduates and include this years people.

Such an accomplishment should not go un-celebrated, imo.

Congrats to the graduate and her MOM!

GA,

This is true. One day at the time. My daughter is one that likes to have plans set. She takes after her father!

It took me awhile to figure things out but my husband was one of those people in life that knew his path from a very young child.

He actually started designing control panels for his bedroom at a very young age.

His mom had to take him to the main library for technical books because the small neighborhood library did not have them.

He was the geek kid who ended up being a wonderful engineer.

Barb,

She had hired professional photographer to do her photos on campus like many of the graduates do at LSU. LSU has a pretty campus with huge live oak trees.

Oh well...it’s a disappointment but can’t be helped. Stinks for this years graduating class.

She has interviews lined up in Denver in June. I was so looking forward to this.

As you know, Barb that I was taking care of mom since my daughters were young. I didn’t get the opportunity to share her college experience with her.

I had to stay with mom so I didn’t get to visit her in Baton Rouge. I’m really bummed 🙁 but trying to handle it as best that I can. She hated telling me there was no graduation.

Huge let down for my daughter. I told her that I was sorry about not being able to attend a ceremony and that I knew how disappointed she is but that we were very proud of her with or without a ceremony.

Thanks, MidKid

Your words are very comforting and encouraging.

Interesting news about your son. Life can throw surprises at us for sure, right Mid?

Blueday,

We toured Millsaps with our daughter. It’s a great school but my daughter wanted to be in a larger school. Millsaps is a very small school and my daughter is more comfortable in a larger school.

Karsten,


Haha, very funny! You seem to enjoy stirring the pot. Not seeing my child graduating is upsetting but go ahead and make your stupid jokes. I do have a sense of humor but your timing stinks.

LSU is our flagship school, a very well respected school that happens to have a phenomenal football team! This year was certainly their year, undefeated and national won the championship. Geaux Tigers!

I am proud that my daughter attended LSU. She is extremely bright and was accepted into top schools in various places (including private schools) when she was researching schools. She interned while still in high school and received college credit. She specifically chose LSU.

Boy I am going to get beat up for this one but I cannot help myself

Does LSU even have classes and a school to graduate from? I thought they just played football.

My son is a senior just down the road at Millsaps in Jackson, MS. I have been anticipating this news for him. I hope they delay their decision a bit. It seems a month too early. I hate that Louisiana is considered a high-risk state for corona!

My Uni has the professional Cap 'n Gown photos done months before graduation. I had mine done two weeks ago. So although I may not walk across the stage, I will have my photos.

If you have the cap and gown--have her go have some portraits done for the 'wall of pride'.

I bet you are sad! My son was graduating, but getting ready to get married and move to CT to go to Law School. He and my SIL were graduating from the school of business and my SIL worked his rear end off to graduate--so no way he wasn't going to 'walk'. My son, being the putz he can often be, refused to 'walk'. He said "come out to New Haven and watch B (his wife) and I walk from Law School and Med School" I pulled the mom guilt thing and said "who knows where we'll be in 3 years?! Please do this for me".

So he takes off from work, throws on his cap and gown and sits through the ceremony looking like somebody'd shot his dog. He didn't even bother to put on a tie. My SIL, on the other hand--what a proud moment!

Flash fwd 3 years and both son and his wife are graduating--and guess what? We were stuck within a 2 hr radius of the hospital where my hubby was going to get a liver transplant. We could not travel to CT or anywhere. So we did NOT see them graduate--sent our YD and her hubby out to 'represent'.

It IS a huge deal for parents, even if the student is just burned out and wants to get on with life.

Everybody is dealing with disappointment as we as a world are trying to stop the spread of this disease. It's definitely testing our abilities to work TOGETHER and be upbeat and positive.

Go ahead and feel bad. I know I would. Then, move forward and think how proud you are of such an accomplishment.

NHwM, I'm hoping that some enterprising photography studio has an LSU cap and gown and will do photos in her/his studio.

NeedHelpWithMom, life is so far from being static today, that your daughter's plans for June may be changed to staying at home.    Not trying to be discouraging, but the firm(s) with which she interviews may not be hiring at that time, especially if they too end up shutting down temporarily.

There are going to be some serious changes in firm valuations and operations b/c of the shutdown.  Layoffs have already taken place, and while I hope that she doesn't experience difficulty finding a job, it would be nice if you as Mom could have her with you for a few more months while the CV works its way through the country, and the world.

I hope you and your family are safe and remain so.

So sorry for you. Just becoming an overwhelming time each day.

I am so sorry! This is a milestone in one's life. While not comparable to watching her walk across the stage, I hope you're able to get her cap and gown and have a blowout celebration together.

Elaine,

Hope your son stays well. My husband’s company asked everyone to work at home also.

it is all disappointing but perspective is needed.

80 years ago young college aged men (and women) weren't worried about not going to their college graduation. They were sent off to war and many never came back.

We owe so much to those people. Missing a graduation is a bummer, not trying to make light of it, but it could be worst.

My son just wrote me and said there were 2 confirmed people who tested positive for the corona virus in the building he works at in New York City. Needless to say he will be working from his apartment.

Pam, yes I want photos of her in her cap and gown.

Cali, kids all over in different circumstances are upset over all of this. Tons of these cancelled. Sorry about your kids being disappointed.

Mj, just what you need, more tuition!

Thanks, Leolonnie My daughter will be your neighbor in Denver! She is excited about interviewing there.

Congrats! Tothill. It very well may be postponed.

I expect my graduation ceremony may be canceled too. I waited a very long time to get my degree.

it is sad, but safety is more important.