u/Euphoricbolt11

For years, my daughter jokingly told all of her friends that I had ruined her whole childhood and traumatized her because I wouldn’t buy her Sylvanian Families as a kiddo. So, we turned this into an elaborate prank last week at her High School graduation party.

I bought about 60 of them and dressed them all up as graduates on a stage, watching the valedictorian (my daughter) giving a speech. We included a poetic explanation on the back of the stage and each critters “diploma” contained a special message to my daughter from one of her close friends or family members.

A member of that group suggested that I repost the story here to spread a little joy. Hope you enjoy. ♥️

Well, I’m happy to report the Calico Critter display was a complete success! On Graduation day, we lead her to find a “little source of inspiration for her speech” It was one of the critters, dressed up as her school mascot in valedictorian cords and stole.

She took it with her and attached it to her lei for good luck! She didn’t need the luck, her speech was flawless and left no dry eyes in the stadium!

The next day was her graduation party. Since she was so excited about the one critter, I felt pretty safe giving them all to her with her friends in tow. We set the display up on a wheeled cart and wheeled it out to her while she was posing for pictures. She laughed til her face hurt as she read the poem aloud to everyone. They were all posed in the bleachers, and each critter had their own “diploma”. The diplomas each contained a tiny warm hug message from one of her friends and/or loved ones. “She” of course was at the podium giving her speech…and that was playing on my phone as we wheeled out.
Thank you all for the incredible ideas! Reddit wins this round of wholesome fun! What a memory for us all. I’m so appreciative of the hundreds of great responses, ideas, Awards and likes!

https://www.reddit.com/r/WhatShouldIDo/s/HSkMU2PAQI. (Update to this original post)

She is 18 and graduating next week. She often jokes to all her friends that I traumatized her entire childhood because I wouldn’t buy her Calico Critters (edit to add: AKA Sylvanian Families) as a kid. In my defense, she already collected Shopkins and Littlest Pet Shops and I thought those were plenty expensive enough. 🤣.

Anyway….because it’s been an ongoing joke, I decided to buy a lot of Critters on EBay and dress them all up in grad stuff. Here’s my creations…..and now my dilemma. Her grad party is next week and I want to surprise her in some grand hilarious way….but I just am creatively stumped. Do I just use them as decorations at the party? Wrap up each one and make her unwrap all 50? Put them on the cake at the party? Idk. Help!

Finally settled on the perfect car for our graduate. Hope it safely takes her all the places that her future holds. The late-night drives, the college mornings, the windows-down freedom, the life waiting just beyond this season…..

No matter where the road takes her, adventure seems ✨in the stars ✨ 🚙