I agree that the (potential) short term pain of attending your daughters graduation is worth the long term gain. The past 3 months have been especially hard on you, understandably, but do not forget years and memories you cherish, and most importantly she will always be your daughter. The opportunity to attend her graduation will only present itself once in this lifetime and it is one of the most important days of her life.

I had one friend in high school, we were 16 and her boyfriend was 24. We all thought he was really incredible at the time, but now looking back over a decade later… she realizes he was a creep. They say hiensight is 20/20, but in the event that she decides to spend the rest of her life with him, you also want to be there. Meet him, love her, and be there when she gets married, bears your grandchildren, and needs advice from her mom.

When it comes to matters of the heart, we should expect to lose when we offer anything other than support for decisions others make; the heart wants what the heart wants and no one can change that. This is a good opportunity to help her merge into adulthood stronger and with more self assurance because she has the support of her family and to show her you trust that you have raised her to make smart choices even if it doesnt seem that way right now. She is entering a new phase of life and will benefit from you, and your husband sharing your knowledge of the real world as she goes through the motions.

If it goes badly at her graduation, at least you can always look them in the eye and say you tried. If you try and explain your absence was due “business”, like someone posted before me said… no one will believe you.