I finally finished school after taking two classes per semester since 2010, finishing a Bachelor's that I started a thousand years ago but took a hiatus from. haha. I was pregnant with LO1 and taking on-campus classes, and took online classes on maternity leave, and then taking on-campus EVENING classes after a full work day when pregnant with LO2. In other words, I busted my ass! And the entire time I didn't think I would ever get to "walk the stage," but I stuck it through and finished. YES.

However I don't think I can go to commencement! First, they want graduates there at 7 a.m. (crazy!!) The ceremony starts at 9:30 am, and it's in a sports/concert arena. (indoors/air conditioned at least.) It goes until about 1 pm I was told. They have all of us sitting in the center in rows of seats, where the basketball games happen etc., and guests are in the audience seats. My concern is that it will drag on forever, and my 9-week old doesn't take a bottle. So she'd be miserable and hungry if she stayed home with DH, and he'd have to manage her AND our difficult 2-year old alone. He's more than willing of course, I'm just picturing his patience wearing thin with the toddler if she tantrums/cries etc., while the baby cries because she's hungry, and it just being a terrible day for all of them. (I have PPA which I know comes into play with this imagined scenario .)

I asked the University if there's any way I can sit and wait elsewhere instead of The Graduate Chair Pit, but they said I should sit with my class and then just have my DH text me if/when the baby cried. Then I could leave, feed her, and come back. That it would be "just like if you had to get up to go to the bathroom." I just feel like that's too crazy - going in and out I dunno. I'd say disruptive too since she feeds on demand and can feed a bunch in a span of just one hour let alone the entire ceremony. So don't worry, I'm not leaning toward this option. Too disruptive/crazy/annoying/difficult.
So I'd either have DH stay home and Mayyyybe be ok from 7 am til I got home around 2 or 3 pm. Or just skip it.

I'm torn!

If I skip it, I was trying to think of a way to celebrate my graduation with cap and gown, because damnit that means a lot to me. FInally earning the right to wear it. Maybe just have a celebration cook-out with family close friends and drinks? And I could wear the cap and gown for some photos and have a cake? Actually that's sounding better by the minute haha.

What do you bees think? Any creative ideas or similar situations?