DEAR MISS MANNERS: My high school senior made a mistake, and the consequence is that he will get a diploma, but he cannot participate in any senior activities -- including attending graduation and walking across the stage.
I have already bought graduation announcements, and they all have the date and time for the ceremony. I can’t mail them now, I guess???? How do I let people know my first child has graduated, without letting them know he wasn’t allowed to walk the stage??
GENTLE READER: This is not your son’s finest moment. Miss Manners would think it in his best interest not to call attention to a situation that may get out anyway, as it is probably known to the entire school.
She suggests that you use the announcements as scratch paper, and merely tell anyone who would be interested that yes, your son has finished high school and is now ... (fill in the blank: attending college, starting a job, or whatever he is doing).
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
