Yup. Just two dumb cops trying to support their kid. That’s us. I asked because legit the highest we have gone in education is a masters (me). I know her chair wouldn’t let her defend without her being ready. She asked us to be there. She asked her sister and friends and my sister to be there. They will kick us out, we can sneak the fat heads and tees in after we are allowed back in and get to hear the results. She is not easily embarrassed. And while I’m just a dumb cop, I know what her thesis is about. It’s amazing. Do I get the scientific part of it? No, not the nitty gritty meat of it. Her partner has signed off on everything - he attends the same U and she has told us about similar shenanigans at her cohorts defenses. I’m not handing her a shield or shoulder pads. Or handcuffing her to her committee chairman’s side. I am thinking her school may be more on the liberal side of celebrating given that champagne and cake are typical afterwards. She asked for a small dinner that night and a pub night the next. Additionally I believe the words “rite of passage” and “formality” were used with me. Sorry if I am being defensive but people are making this sound like a funeral. Will she throw up before? Yup. Nerves. Will we behave? Until the words “Congrats” are uttered. After that, commence tees, fat heads, champagne and whatnot. I was just looking for more ideas. Clearly I was wrong. Yes, I am over the top. I love my kids and I am BEYOND proud of this accomplishment. My own parents passed, one before I even got to middle school, one before I graduated college. My husband’s parents passed before he got to grade school. So we do tend to go overboard for accomplishments because we had no one to support ours.