Becoming a monk is way for young men to make merit for themselves and for their family (especially your mother as a woman can't make merit by becoming a monk).

Family was important and evident at yesterday's ceremony at Wat Phan Tao. Family members were present inside the Wat, to watch and to present robes,  and outside afterwards for a shared meal under a small marquee.

Monks must be twenty before they can be ordained, but these boys looked very young, probably twelve to fifteen years of age.  Very young to be leaving home.

Many monks come from poor families and this seemed evident to me yesterday. The family above are dressed in hill tribe clothing.  They would not be able to afford to educate their children so becoming a monk is seen as a valuable opportunity.  I'm not sure the young boy was looking too enthusiastic about the future and his mother also looked pensive.