[ProtoLawyer]

I use "graduating" in quotation marks because she is progressing from 2nd grade to 3rd grade--heading to a different building but with all of the same students, etc.<br><br>
Anyhow, it's the first Friday in June. As I will be unemployed, I will be attending with my husband.<br><br>
The agenda is, roughly, as follows:<br>
9:00 a.m. leave for my stepdaughter's city, which is approximately 70 miles away.<br>
10:30 a.m. "Ceremony" in multi-purpose room. This will include the second-grade choir singling treacly songs (because all kids songs suitable for elementary school choirs are either sickeningly sweet or made up of bad puns). Uncomfortable folding chairs. No air conditioning. "NO FOOD OR DRINK" sign prominently at entrance; I do plan to bring a water bottle in my bag and ask forgiveness rather than ask permission and get denied.<br>
11:30 a.m. Walk almost a mile to nearby park. We have been advised nearby park only has handicapped parking, and seating for 100--there are 72 second-graders and each of them will probably have one or more guest. We have been told to bring a picnic blanket and food (picnic is BYO).<br>
12:30 p.m. Walk almost a mile back to school. Hang around the city until school gets out, retrieve stepdaughter, drive her back to our city for the weekend.<br><br>
Now...I'll be 33w3d. Walking is already a day-to-day thing for me--some days, a mile each way is cake. Other days, my hips give out and it is decidedly not fine. Uncomfortable folding chairs will not help. Weather may or may not be a factor--it could be 60s and beautiful, could be 90s and humid, could be sunny, could be thunderstorms (I suspect we will not be walking to the park and eating on a blanket in a thunderstorm, though I do not know what the rain plans are). Eating on the ground is out if anyone actually expects me to get back up (I imagine--at least, I would *hope* that huge waddly pregnant people, along with elderly/disabled/etc., will get priority for one of the 100 seats, but still).<br><br>
So...how do I manage this?

 

[jennica]

Maybe start walking every day to build up your tolerance - and it's good for you too <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"> Wear comfortable walking shoes, it doesn't matter how they look. Also, bring a lot of water, like a large thermos or cooler full, and keep drinking all day. I assume there will be a bathroom at the park? Use the bathroom before walking to and from the park. Also, bring a folding chair. If you don't get one of the 100 seats, take your folding chair out of the trunk and set it up in the back or off to the side somewhere where you can still see and people wont stand in front of you. People will understand why a pregnant woman is setting up a folding chair. Use the same chair to eat your picnic - again people will understand. Good luck!

 

[woodchick]

DDC crashing-<br><br>
I'd have your husband drive you and your picnic goodies over to the park, then find a place to park the car and walk back to meet you. When it is over he can go and retrieve the car and pick you up. Stinks for him, but you won't have to walk!

 

[nervousnelle]

I would fill my purse with water bottles and covert snacks like trail mix, grapes, and granola bars. I might bring a pillow to sit on in the folding chair. I would also hit every bathroom along the way. Oh, and wear comfortable shoes or sandals, and a light outfit and bring a cardigan.<br><br>
Have fun!

 

[stik]

Are they nuts? 100 chairs in a park (with no parking) a mile from the school for a class of 72 2nd graders? That's not even enough for all the kids to bring two parents.<br><br>
Honestly, if I was looking at this event as a person in the 8th month of pregnancy, I would pack a lovely picnic with a thoughtful note for my dsd and send my dh to the promotion ceremony on his own. And then I would spend the day with my feet up, surfing the living daylights out of the internet and introducing my fetus to the pleasures of watching Glee on hulu.<br><br>
If you choose to go, pat yourself on the back for being an altruistic and loving person, wear comfortable shoes, and ignore all the rules about food and drink. I would also bring a folding camp chair. And I would make my dh carry it. And the picnic would have to really rock.

 

[ProtoLawyer]

Cripes, I didn't even think to look as to whether there are restrooms at the park.<br><br>
(Looking now.)<br><br>
Yes. Restrooms. OK, good. Apparently, this is a major park--swimming during the summer, tennis, etc. And, looking at the web site, there *is*a parking lot. I suspect the school said "handicapped only" to discourage 72 cars from caravanning. That's good.<br><br>
There will be enough seating for the program in the auditorium, but I will be stuck with the folding chairs (I've been there before--it's a tight squeeze). Maybe I'll look into a stadium cushion.<br><br>
jennica, it's not so much I don't have a tolerance--some days, I can and have walked quite a distance. It's just so day-to-day; some days, I wake up from having slept in a weird position (which I know at this point is relative) and just getting to and from the bathroom, or from the house to the car, is an ordeal.<br><br>
Maybe I should play this by ear and make a game-day decision.

 

[Terrilein]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>stik</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15423859"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Are they nuts? 100 chairs in a park (with no parking) a mile from the school for a class of 72 2nd graders? That's not even enough for all the kids to bring two parents.<br><br>
Honestly, if I was looking at this event as a person in the 8th month of pregnancy, I would pack a lovely picnic with a thoughtful note for my dsd and send my dh to the promotion ceremony on his own. And then I would spend the day with my feet up, surfing the living daylights out of the internet and introducing my fetus to the pleasures of watching Glee on hulu.<br><br>
If you choose to go, pat yourself on the back for being an altruistic and loving person, wear comfortable shoes, and ignore all the rules about food and drink. I would also bring a folding camp chair. And I would make my dh carry it. And the picnic would have to really rock.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/yeahthat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yeah that"> She's not graduating from high school or college just yet. Do something extra nice over the weekend with her instead to make up for not being there.

 

[queenofchaos]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>woodchick</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15423671"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">DDC crashing-<br><br>
I'd have your husband drive you and your picnic goodies over to the park, then find a place to park the car and walk back to meet you. When it is over he can go and retrieve the car and pick you up. Stinks for him, but you won't have to walk!</div>
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This was my thoughts, or the another posters idea of not going.

 

[ProtoLawyer]

Before we found out the details (we knew there would be a choir concert and lunch, didn't know lunch involved a walk and a park), I told her I would go--her mom can't go, so she's really looking forward to having her other family there. She'd be disappointed. She's already feeling put out by the baby as it is--I don't really want to do another "well, I'd love to go, but I'm just not feeling up to it." (She's perceptive and can put 2+2 together--she knows the baby makes me tired and makes walking difficult.)<br><br>
We'll see how I'm doing that day and make a decision from there.

 

[Terrilein]

Ah, ok. Then ask her now if you can do something else with her instead of possibly cancelling on her at the last minute. She's not a toddler and can see what you're going through. Explain that your condiion is going to get more cumbersome, and that you'd rather not spoil the ceremony with your moaning and groaning. Offer to pick out something to do together later that weekend.<br>
Otherwise, yeah, looks like you'll have to suck it up and go.

 

[TCMoulton]

DDC crashing...<br><br>
Honestly it sounds like this is really important to your DSD and even though it seems like another silly event if I was in your shoes I would do everything I could to attend with a smile on my face. I would bet it would mean the world to her, especially since her mom won't be attending.<br><br>
For the ceremony bring a pillow to cushion your chair and make sure you have a seat at the end of a row so you can make a quick exit if you need to stretch your legs or use the restroom. When the ceremony finishes I would make a quick exit so that you have a good chance of getting one of the available parking spots at the picnic site (and if there are none available have your husband drop you off to save your seats while he parks). While it might not be your most comfortable moment I would bet that your DSD's happiness will make it all worth the effort!