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

Hell On Eels replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"Frankie, I've posted a blog titled "the foetal position" which might address some of your questions. If you answer my questions, I'll answer yours. Otherwise, I won't play your games."
2 minutes ago
Clintorian replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"We'll be stuck in an infinite loop of sadness until we win a Premiership, and to do this we'll need to get ourselves out of it by focusing on juniors or non-elite players."
6 minutes ago
The Badger replied to Blue Eel's discussion Let's Ask !!
"Come on Frank. MON organised Woolies Meat supply chain. 
We'd have the best after training BBQs in the NRL."
37 minutes ago
Hell On Eels replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"Frank, you’re welcome to keep poo-bombing the walls in the zoo here (better here than at home), but I’m not apologising for the club behaving like adults. Matching the Saints’ offer would be irresponsible. Souths didn't. The Chooks didn't. We didn't."
37 minutes ago
Bear replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion St. George Illawarra Dragons secure Keaon Koloamatangi on long-term deal
"Darkest times of the club???????? Obviously you weren't around just after Sterling and Kenny left....dark times my ass. Stop whining, our trajectory is on an upwards curve, is it akin to " I have to have the latest new toy" 😄 "
37 minutes ago
The Badger replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"I saw this just the other day ...not sure why it's news really. 
I suppose the club taking a punt on AMS is worth a snippet somewhere but they're all NSW Cup contracts."
42 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion St. George Illawarra Dragons secure Keaon Koloamatangi on long-term deal
"Could well be but you've got both coaches putting a pitch to the player so I have to think that this is the issue the ability for the given to close the deal for the given club.
Much like the Galvin attempt Ryles is the one getting him over the line…"
47 minutes ago
Parrafan101 replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"These are cup players they aren't earning as much as what a first grade would be. But I'm still pissed off on the fact that the recruitment team reminds of a skit from a family guy episode. This club is a family guy episode."
53 minutes ago
Hector replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"Been a battle at times Frank . But still hanging in there 😳"
54 minutes ago
Frank The Tank replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"😂😂"
1 hour ago
Hector replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"I could say try seventy years you whinging pricks . But i wont🙄😂"
1 hour ago
Frank The Tank replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"By the way, I part with my hard earned each year, from club memberships to foxtel etc, and so too do my family. We are life long fans.
Right now after 45 long years as a devoted fan, I feel like I have earned the right to express the dismay I have…"
1 hour ago
Frank The Tank replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"And yet that news miraculously appears over the internet, question is how and who wanted/needed it to? If they weren't advertising it why pass on this irrelevant news if not to show the fans that they are busy making moves..
C'mon mate stop being a…"
1 hour ago
Frank The Tank replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"😂😂😂
Found in a wheelie bin behind Kmart "
1 hour ago
Wizardssleeves official receipts replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"Well it's only been since 2006 since we unearthed one , we must be due , yeah ? 
 
Faaaark , has it been 20 years since we unearthed an Australian player from our stocks  ? Really ? 
 
Where are the smart footy heads to confirm this ?  Thats a blog…"
1 hour ago
Wizardssleeves official receipts replied to Blue Eel's discussion Injury-plagued winger among four players retained by Parramatta Eels
"" Hey son , you didn't get that Mongoose bike you asked for from Santa , but here's some second hand roller skates ""
1 hour 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…
13 Replies · Reply by Darren Munro 14 hours ago
Views: 1657

ANY MORE SIGNINGS???

I've been frustrated recently about the work we have been doing in the open market. Jonah's alright for a year and JDB is solid but he's getting old. I feel we need more in the forwards and some a replacement outside back. All I have seen is links…

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 143

 

Let's Ask !!

I find myself sitting around watching the cricket after the Christmas Festivities, and I'm stewing on the perception that we are missing out on real talent that our coach wants, and missing out with way too much regularity and consistency. The…

Read more…
44 Replies · Reply by The Badger 37 minutes ago
Views: 1220

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