Some Thoughts on College Graduation Ceremonies.

'Tis the season, right? Graduation. High school, college, mostly. It's a time to stop and reflect- reflection on what you've learned, how far you've come, who has helped you. It's also a time to... yes, commence the next step in your life. Where do you go from here? What are you going to do with all that knowledge you've worked so hard to obtain?

But back to that reflection bit.

I attended one graduation ceremony, viewed another online- they were at the same time, or I would have attended both. But I noticed something very interesting. Of course, both ceremonies had key-note speakers who addressed all the things they'd learned, the professors and mentors who had impacted their lives... and the other people in the lives of their fellow graduates' lives who had supported them and made that graduation possible.

Parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, grandparents, friends, and coworkers were mentioned. For an institution whose students are nearly 100% adults, and therefore, very possibly married, romantic partners were not mentioned.

A person's spouse is often the most intimate partner in life. Not just sex, but life in general. Money, household management, time management, child-rearing.

Yeah, I was a little offended that my efforts toward my husband's degree was not recognized, acknowledged, or mentioned in any fashion.

I took on the lion's share of household work- meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, dishes, cleaning, laundry (wash, dry, fold, put away), sleep hygiene, homework, emotional support, bragging on the projects and successes... I gladly picked up the slack because that's what spouses do.

Sure, it's how a healthy partnership works... but it'd be nice for your work to be acknowledged.

So to all those who supported their husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend- Thank you for all you did, and all you continue to do!