Def - I don't know if this will help at all but I didn't attend my graduation because I didn't want the stress of my parents being there, different issues but a similar result.
It turned out a really good decision for me, perhaps because dressing up on show never appeals to me much anyway but mostly I think because it removed all stress about the event instantly. I found the pressure to do something crumbled once I'd made my own decision and wasn't budging. I still know a few friends from uni and they pretty much all think it's really cool I didn't go - I think because I stood up for what I wanted rather than what I 'should' do.
I can't remember my parents response at all, I never discussed it with them - just told them I wasn't doing it.
I really don't know if this helps, but not attending was a fantastic solution to me. The education never stops giving it's own reward that goes deeper and way beyond any single day's celebration, it'll be with me for life and it enriches life.