<p>Wow, @lizardly, the parents “offer” drinking? Like actively condone it or supply alcohol? Don’t they get in trouble? In a neighboring town a husband and wife got arrested (I think… at least they got a huge fine) last year because the police found kids drinking at their home at a party. The parents claimed they were actively trying to keep kids from drinking, dumping out beer if they found it, etc, still they were held to the law and got in trouble. I just cannot imagine parents actually condoning it! Do the police turn a blind eye as well?</p>
<p>@stacyneil, The Cake Bible suggests removing the airtight wrapping and thawing it overnight in the refrigerator in the box. Rose says that slow thawing prevents water droplets. You would then take it out several hours in advance to bring it up to room temperature. (Of course, she’s talking about a cake made with butter, which has the best texture at room temp. It is safe to assume that a grocery store cake is made with shortening.) Nevertheless, I’d put it in the fridge on Thursday, and take it out Friday morning. You can always put it back in the fridge when it is fully thawed if it’s hot out or something. (Who knows what we could be experiencing, weather-wise!)</p>
<p>If people are going to host a drinking party in our area, it had better be in North Yarmouth, which doesn’t have a police department. One notices that there are almost weekly pot busts in the surrounding towns, but never there. I guess the state cop who might be patrolling all the way to Harpswell has better things to do. 
Similarly, it seems as if no one in North Yarmouth ever gets a speeding ticket. Why we pay to support a police department, I do not know. There is certainly no crime wave there.</p>
<p>@consolation Thank you! I’m actually so horrified to even have the grocery store cake in our house, because we are normally a completely from-scratch, use-our-own-organic-eggs kind of family. But D really wanted a silly “photo” cake so we indulged her! Luckily the photo is of a frog, which is also entirely appropriate for the IB Bio class part, so it all works well in the end. I appreciate your looking that up for me and will follow Rose’s advice!</p>
<p>Interesting about N. Yarmouth! I hadn’t realized they were under the state jurisdiction and that was why the Police Beat is always so light for them compared to everywhere else. I am still surprised at the relative leniency of our PD when it comes to pot, especially since it’s so ridiculously prevalent in the school.</p>
<p>I live in small-town New England (typical high school class is 75 kids) and for a long time the tradition was for the family of a senior to host an after-prom party–parents would take the keys of the guests and lock everyone in and allow alcohol. The hosts didn’t provide it but it was clear that they wouldn’t object if guests drank. This practice continued for a long time until a kid got alcohol poisoning and the old police chief retired and a new one warned folks that he’d prosecute everyone involved in a party like this. </p>
<p>That’s when a group of parents got together and started plans for an all-night post-prom party at the high school. Now, this is where all the kids go. It’s a very elaborate affair–the gym/lunch area and common areas are transformed. The people on this committee are usually folks who love to decorate and they get props from people in town–they start organizing in September. There’s always a theme that’s a surprise, lots of food, games, and raffles that continue all through the night with great prizes (tickets to MLB games, gift certificates to local movie theaters, restaurants, etc.) There’s lots of fundraising in the community for the party and students as well as parents really get behind the event.</p>
<p>This organized party really makes it much less attractive for kids to get trashed and since it’s become the thing to do–everyone goes including many juniors or seniors who haven’t gone to the prom. (The prom is usually held at a country club in another town.) Of course some kids still get trashed but this organized event has helped to limit the drinking and keep kids occupied and relatively safe.</p>
<p>IDK how they get away with it. I will see a friend today whose child went to a post prom party with drinking. I am curious to see how it went. Yes, the parents claim to take car keys and separate boys and girls and stay up and monitor what happens. Parents who host/let their kids attend argue that drinking will happen and that this is a controlled exercise. I wouldn’t do it. And I wouldn’t let my kids attend. </p>
<p>But again I am glad your party turned out well. I know of one other coed, no drinking, post prom party here besides mine that was well attended and did not attract party crashers or trouble. Are there others? IDK. I do think it is worth offering the option and like I said I intend to do it again with younger son even though his friend group is more problematic. </p>
<p>My son went to a “co-ed” all night gathering after Prom this weekend. We knew tha parents were there and monitoring. I remember when he was younger and I heard that the after prom gatherings (purposely not using the word party) were co-ed I was shocked - amazing how you get used to things after awhile. The gathering my son went to have 10 people. 2 of the couples were “dating” (including my son) and the other 6 people were just friends. I figure if we haven’t instilled the right values in him by now - it might be too late!</p>
<p>Our school has an all night post prom event for which I am extremely grateful. More kids go to that instead of the prom! I did hear of one mom last year who set up a post-post-prom party - she put up lots of tents in her yard and her kid’s friends all came over and slept there after. Which sounds like a recipe for an unintended pregnancy to me but whatever.</p>
<p>I thought the parents in that linked article were crazy. My response to the idea that well, my kids want to drink so I’ll set it up so they can do it “safely” is, well my kids want to eat ice cream for dinner/sleep all day instead of go to school/take the new shirt from the store because they don’t have enough money to buy it. It’s wrong and it’s my job as a parent to help you make good decisions. And I REALLY don’t want anyone providing alcohol to my kid against my rules.</p>
<p>It is interesting that we have a post graduation program for kids but not a post prom program. Graduation does not take place at the same time or day every year here, it floats. There have been some noon time on Sunday graduations, which are not conducive to drunken parties. </p>
<p>Friend’s son survived btw. He was bored and came home early. Could be all the cultural build up about PROM wasn’t the same as IRL prom. </p>
<p>A lot of guys seem to have little or no interest in proms.</p>
<p>I think that both guys and girls have that reaction to prom. I agree there is a huge disconnect between the build-up and the actuality. D went last year and expected it to be fun, creatively decorated, magical, with great music. She cam home after about 45 minutes because she said it was barely different than a regular school dance. Just a guy with an ipod playing bad music, lame decorations, etc. She did not think it was worth the money to go this year! The only real fun of it, for her, was wearing a fancy dress. Hence the dance party here instead…</p>
<p>Here in the Northeast, major money spent on proms. Some of these dresses are $500 and up. We did not spend that much money on D’s dress. The tix are $70. Most kids take limos $ 75.00 to the event ( 30 minutes away) It is just a very expensive night. Our town does a post prom at the school, that looks like a nice, safe, fun time for the kids. I think most proms have breathalyzers in our area now. </p>