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

The Captain replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"I really love what Ryles is attempting to do with culture and pathways, it's just a bit of a chicken and egg situation if we can't retain the talent.
To build culture you need tenure (people to stick around) and to have tenure you, by your metric…"
49 minutes ago
fake midget pseudoachondroplasia replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"We are only now seeing some of the halves who were highly touted years ago start to come good after refining their game in reserve grade or struggling for years such as Tannah Boyd and Jake Clifford.  They still aren't great halves but are much more…"
5 hours ago
fake midget pseudoachondroplasia replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"Was Twidle debut as good as Fa'alogo for Melbourne.  Is he better prospect than Iongi who waited behind Edwards.  Players who wait and develop without rushing their debut, starting roles or big money early are seeing the benefit of it over young…"
6 hours ago
LB replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"Like Ethan Sanders, who after one game people were annointing breakout star of the year. Ever since Round 1 he had a good Round 2 and has been average since.
1 game does not make a player."
6 hours ago
The Captain replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"Control the narrative Pops. We knew we were going to debut Apa. We must have known for some time he was on the cusp. 
This reaction by his manager implies the narrative wasn't controlled. I guarantee a Politis would have already taken both Apa and…"
8 hours ago
The Captain replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"Thanks for bringing the receipts Bluey.
There's such a lack of information around as to who actually does what.
I have also seen that even though MON was originally touted as the GM of Football he has more recently been referred to in the press as…"
9 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"On another note tom duffy killed it tonight for brisbane. I bet madge must be thinking why did i sign pezet"
9 hours ago
Yeah Man replied to fake midget pseudoachondroplasia's discussion Ryles coaching
"Yeah like only so much he can do with incompetence of MON, plus every week's we getting multiple injuries per game.  "
9 hours ago
Yeah Man replied to fake midget pseudoachondroplasia's discussion Ryles coaching
"That's just not happening if they leave be rugby or PNG. Ryles is good coach just need better RR to give him talent to work with."
9 hours ago
ParraPride replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"If he is patient enough to wait 1 more season, there'll be plenty of opportunities around the corner for him."
10 hours ago
Blue Eel replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"SuperEel 22 Super, with respect! I'll reply and explain why as you've asked.
Here is an excerpt from the Eels management when they signed Mark O'Neill.
In recognition of the increasing complexities of managing an elite sporting environment, the…"
10 hours ago
JC replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's Sack !'s discussion Strong rumoured loan deal happening
"I didn't think I needed to explain it would be to play 6 as we definitely don't need a fullback. 
I knew straight away it was the mention of mon that got super and yourself to jump straight in and I make no apologies for criticising mon as I believe…"
11 hours ago
Will 5150 replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"Holy crap... that made me laugh and cry at the same time. All I have ringing in my head is "sad but true"..."
11 hours ago
Poppa replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's Sack !'s discussion Strong rumoured loan deal happening
"I would say your right, but you obviously did not suggest that.....now nodding the head and saying WTF....if you could not have waited to get MON in the equation and explained your thinking  it may have stopped my negativity....I cannot speak for…"
11 hours ago
Yehez replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"He can indeed. He can be a more "involved" winger sorta like Lomax was maybe sometimes. But Apa doesn't have metres out the back in him. We'll need Penisini and whoever is left center to do the work then. "
11 hours ago
Eel4lyfe replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"Re-sign Apa, its simple. The kid has alot of raw talent. He plays whats in front of him and has a footy brain. He can play anywhere in the back line and is even big enough to play lock. Yes he has some errors in his game, but there is more up side…"
11 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: 2288

 

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