Do's and Dont's for Hosting the Post Prom Party

jym626
Mon, 28 May 2007 13:29:36 +0000

I will try to redo the list-- but it took me FOREVER! I can’t believe I accidentally deleted it!

Here goes:

DO: …

1. Buy LOTS of food
2.Talk to as many parents as possible ahead of time to reassure them you will be there and to get their expectations.

2. Get their (the parents) phone #s (home and cell) and email addresses

3. Take post prom photos in poses similar to the pre-prom photos to send to the parents

4. Get a coat rack for the girls to hang their dresses and guys to hang their tuxes

5. Have masking tape for the guys to label their tuxes (they all look the same the next morning)

6. Label all carkeys before having the kids put them all in a basket (and take ALL keys even of kids who didnt drive-- they sometimes “trade” keys)

7. Go over the groundrules with the kids before the party begins. It is a NO-ALCOHOL party, and any found/seen will be confiscated, but that if they have any concerns about any of the attendees they are to TELL YOU IMMEDIATELY, and that you will have to call the parent to come get them (you can’t leave the party)

8. Tell your neighbors ahead of time that you are hosting this party. They will appreciate the warning and you will appreciate the extra sets of eyes and ears.

9. Go down periodically to “clean up”.

10. Have lots of pillows and blankets.

11. Have fun! Be a parent but not a policeman. You will get lots of positive feedback from the kids and parents if you take this approach

12. Have healthy food as well as junk food, (Fruit, twizzlers, yogurt), etc was appreciated by guys and girls

13. Have only one brand or water bottles that you put out with your sodas, and make it an off brand. That way, any bottles brought by kids with other “clear liquids” can be easily spotted.

14. Carry the kids overnight bags into your house. The unduly heavy ones (with contraband) can be easily identified

15. Have the adults sleep in shifts, so you can get a little sleep and always have an adult awake.

16. Have your kid help clean up before they crash in the afternon after the party (they will be as tired as you).

DON’T: …

1. Expect to get any sleep

2. Put out Orange juice early that is meant for breakfast (it may get spiked)

3. Turn down any offers of food from other parents
4.Turn down any offers from other parents to keep you company during any part of the night

4. Rent any movies or videogames without your kid expressly asking for it or they will think whatever you got is lame

5. Let them close any doors, except for the assigned boy/girl sleeping areas (and check them)

6. Embarass your kid too badly! (No matter how hard you try, something is bound to embarass them)

7. Be surprised that the kids think they can pull one over on you. They forget we all were young once.

8. Be surprised to find out that it is sometimes the girls who try to sneak in the contraband.

9. Run outside barefoot the next morning without watching out for rocks or garden edging (spoken from experience!)

OK-- This is all I can remember right now. I will post more as I recall them.