College student graduates after 5 years, dad refuses to go to graduation because he has a fishing trip: 'He’s missed a lot of my birthdays for similar reasons'

Not every parent sees witnessing their kid's milestones as a priority.

It seems obvious: if you are going to go to the effort of raising children, surely you want to be there to celebrate when they achieve things. This is one of the highlights of the struggles that come with parenting; you finally get to see it pay off.

However, not every mom or dad is truly invested in this more enjoyable side of the parenting journey. They are more concerned with their own interests, or they have the kind of relationship with their kids that means that they are not fazed by missing out on the highlights.

Ultimately, the worst thing about this kind of scenario is the effect that it has on the children. While it is important for parents to have a life outside of their kids, that does not mean deprioritizing them for other things completely. A lifetime of dealing with this kind of thing is what lands adults in therapy for many, many years. For many, the sting of dealing with a parent like this does not go away completely, no matter how much they may grow up and achieve stuff without them.

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_{^{A female college graduate holds her cap halfway across her face while sitting on steps outside}}
_{^{The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.}}
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In this story, a woman had struggled to complete her college course but was finally graduating after five years. She was proud of her achievement, and she hoped that her dad might come along to her graduation ceremony to celebrate.
However, she was disappointed when her father informed her that the graduation landed on the exact same day as his big annual fishing trip. He claimed that he was reluctant to back out, as this meant that he might not get invited back. She was angry that he would miss a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but she wasn't sure if her anger was justified.
Am I overreacting over my dad skipping my college graduation for a fishing trip?

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_{^{The back of the head of a graduating college student outside}}
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