O prom, prom, wherefore art thou prom? Who knows what made prom such a huge aspect of growing up, but it is what it is, and I can’t see a change happening in the status quo any time soon.
Many teens expect more from prom that just a night of dancing; they might think about trying new things to make the night even more “memorable”. It is reasonable for parents to be concerned about the safety of their child on prom night. If you are, then the first thing you need to do is talk about it. Start talking before high school. When children enter high school, with each passing year, they start listening more to their peers than their parents.
Fact: Prom is pricey. You should discuss in advance what you are willing to contribute to your teen’s prom and what you expect him to cover himself. Before you go shopping, you could set a spending cap and tell your child that above a certain price, he will be expected to make up the difference.
A couple tips for mothers with daughters: Look for a dress just after prom season the year before she actually will be going to prom; this is when all the dresses will be on clearance. My sister bought her senior prom dress for just $16! If your daughter absolutely wants a new dress, then let her know what your limits are, but don’t hold her back if she’s willing to cover the cost on her own. However, if your daughter saw an older friend wearing a dress in a past year that she loved but feels nervous about asking to borrow it, encourage her to ask. Chances are high that the girl who already has the dress would be happy to see it have another use!
Taking the time to talk to your child about prom and working with him or her to be organized and be prepared for the night will help increase the likelihood that your child will not feel rushed to do anything, and the night will run more smoothly. Key point: start early.