Year 12 formal - HELP

Has anyone had experience going to a year 12 formal as a parent of a graduate? And I don't mean just turning up and getting the photos with the cool cars and red carpet and stuff, I mean paying big money to celebrate the formal with the kid. An invitation has been sent by the school and "all the parents are doing it"... 

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Mate, it will come and go, don't feel pressured into doing anything you're not comfortable with.

    My daughter is having her formal this year, no big money spent here, I'm saving money to further her education, other parents can throw parties for teenagers with limit experience with alcohol. The only thing I want to pick up off my lawn is leaves, not drunken teenagers. 

    I've arranged for a bouquet of flowers, and for my daughter and her friends to be driven to their formal in a friends Ford XYGT Falcon.

    • You couldn't have picked a better car to organise for her. I don't think I was clear, the school have actually sent a note and it's 120 bucks per student and parent and I don't want to do it. Seems like an absolute toss and an invasion on the kids' celebrations. But apparently I'm wrong to think like that. 

      • Tough one, your opinion is not wrong but what do you do? I'm paying $130.00 for just her, for that, she gets a dinner and a dance. Mate, you don't have a choice, it will be the worst $120 you never spent, you don't want your child to miss their first real milestone. 

         

        • No problem paying 120 for the kid, just don't want to pay 240 more for two adults

          • Mate I know, we needed to pay $130.00 per extra person, kids don't want their parents there anyway, my daughter is going on her own and she's happy. She would have paid me $130.00 for me or my wife not to go lol.

             

  • This reply was deleted.
    • I'm glad I don't have a memory of my parents sitting and dining at my year 12 formal. It's not really about the money, it's my gf's kid and I don't understand the purpose, surely if you asked kids the vote would be "no parents". Unheard of when I was 18, parents took photos then farked right off. 

  • Yeah na fuck that , how embarrassing for the poor kids.   It’s like extreme helicopter parenting and the school are cashing in on it .  What kind of school thinks it’s acceptable to wallop parents in the sky rocket to accompany their children to a school dance ?  So if I’m understanding correctly it’s a fee for the privilege of being there , or is it a fee for services ( as in you get dinner and drinks ) ? 

    • The adults pay 120 each for the same dinner and drinks as the kids. 

      • $120 for dinner and drinks isn’t bad . What’s the problem / question ? I thought you had to pay just to go watch them . I wouldn’t go myself but in this day and age I guess certain cultures wouldn’t allow their daughters to go without the father keeping an eye on her virginity .

        • Hey Wiz, I guess the problem is that I find the whole fucken thing weird, I'd find it hard to find more than 10 percent of young people who'd actually want their parents at their formal. I mean they have the graduation ceremony for that sort of celebration and that doesn't involve spending up money and watching kids try to socialise under our watchful eye. It's tantamount to going to Schoolies week with them in my opinion. I'm not the most social person and struggle to get primed for even a wedding, where you're actually invited by the actual people celebrating, not by their authoritarian overseers. It's a Catholic school by the way.. 

This reply was deleted.

Latest comments

Mat Bo replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"With new teams coming in and Super League possibly getting "saved" there's more cash going around than clubs have cap space.That also means moving someone on is easier and best way to overperform is to have young players on unders in your squad. So…"
12 minutes ago
Mallee57 replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"who cares if he signs. There's plenty of other players coming through. One player doesn't win a premiership as we saw with Hayne. The Eels need players who are fully committed not half hearted players who are more interested in themselves and their…"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"You always have to think too, did the coach want them as well? If Ryles really wanted him i believe he is offered a top 30 deal."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"Then again, Ryles has surprised us. We both said last year Tuivaiti more likely sees no FG in 2025 and will play Flegg to Cup. He debuts Round 1 hahaha."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"Though where is that. Logically for Twidle, 5/8 was his only option. For some reason it seems the club only saw him as a Fullback. Lorenzo and Fletcher are our future at 5/8. Maybe Bamblett and Rasati as well who knows. 
I would have loved to have…"
1 hour ago
EA replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"I have been wrong before lol.
I thought MA would be much better than what his career is right now. I thought Alamadine would be a much better winger but I feel he has made minimal progression since we won SG ball in 2023. Ethyn Martin, I got no idea…"
3 hours ago
EA replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"yes Lorenzo is the real deal but like any young half, he has things to work on. He has been compared to a young Milford. Defensively he is fine. Can get exposed a bit but again he is young."
3 hours ago
EA replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"I dont rate Moujalii that high. Walker could be a decent centre. Strong running game."
3 hours ago
Kurupt - Your Mums Favourite Thug replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"Oh well, no biggie"
3 hours ago
Yehez replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"As said above, Penrith lost Hopgood, Iongi, Leniu. 
Melbourne lost Pezet. 
Tigers lost Galvin and Da Silva. 
We have created pathways for Tuivati, Guymer, Ryley, and by the looks of it Lorenzo. 
That's my point, you can'd do it to all of them. We…"
4 hours ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓 replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"We could have picked him up for 450 or less have o'neill acted earlier,  also Sam Tuivaiti is now in a similar position.  Watch fans justify him leaving if and  when the dogs or the bears sign him.for 650k this November 
O'neill is the common…"
4 hours ago
Poupou Escobar replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"The Roosters lost Mitchell, Manu and Sua'ali'i and Penrith lost heaps of kids including Isaiya Katoa."
4 hours ago
Josh d replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"This is the model all of the good teams seem to use. I think the bigger problem is parra management not being able to sell the future to the young kids coming through. There's no way the roosters, Melbourne or Penrith lose talagai, sanders, twiddle…"
5 hours ago
The Captain replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"Really well put Coryn! "
5 hours ago
The Captain replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"I'd say the four consecutive premierships may have softened the blow. Who'd have thought that success would help people retain their jobs... 🤷‍♂️"
5 hours ago
Angry Eel replied to Muttman's discussion Apa Twidle signs with the Bears
"Pretty good with their 4 premierships I'd say "
5 hours ago
More…

Keaon done deal

As of Thursday, December 11, 2025, South Sydney Rabbitohs forwardKeaon Koloamatangi has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Parramatta Eels, but it is not yet officially announced by the clubs.  Soon to be announced.

Read more…
14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
Views: 2358

 

Apa Twidle signs with the Bears

 Rising Apa Twidle will leave the Parramatta Eels at the end of 2026 after agreeing to a three-year deal with the new Perth Bears (joining in 2027).  The deal is in a cooling-off period, but he’s expected to go ahead with it because the offer is…

Read more…
135 Replies · Reply by Mat Bo 12 minutes ago
Views: 2906

<script src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Sidebar -->
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<script>// <![CDATA[
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
// ]]></script>