<p>What are your thoughts on the high school senior prom? Is it really a must-go, or is there a better alternative to the time and money? As parents and former high school seniors you must have a lot of say on this.</p>
<p>Well, it depends on what you want. I’ve never had a kid who was all that excited about the prom. I’ve had a couple who were downright hostile to it.</p>
<p>Part of this depends on where you live. In some places, going to the prom is de rigeur and not going is a social faux pas. In other places, prom is no big deal.</p>
<p>Personally, I’ve never actually talked to anyone who felt that the prom had lived up to expectations.</p>
<p>At my school it was definitely the norm to go and a social fauz pas not to go. I went my junior year and honestly wasn’t all that impressed. My boyfriend went with me junior year (duh) and he was a senior and my senior year he was in college and it was the week of VEISHEA (huge Iowa State week) and because of his commitments couldn’t make it, so I didnt want to go. Three friends of mine also didn’t want to go, so we made a trip to the putt-putt golf course and played 2 rounds then went out to eat and watched some movies. And wearing those hooded sweatshirts was alot more comfortable than a dress ;)</p>
<p>If prom is as popular where you live as where I do, it’s unlikely you’ll find a group of people up for an “alternative” activity that night, even though taking a limo to a rock concert downtown would in my opinion be WAY more fun than a school dance.</p>
<p>But the answer to this question is simple.</p>
<p>Do you want to go? If you’ve got a hot date, can dance, love getting your hair and makeup done or pimping out in a dress or suit, have great after party plans, and all of your friends will be there…it sure sounds like a recipe for an amazing time. By senior prom, we have all experienced a few school dances. No, it might not be the highlight of your life, but you know if it’s your thing or not. Some people have a blast, and some people hate it. If you’re in the latter group, I would say it’s definitely not worth it!</p>
<p>I think senior week is generally the tradition that you don’t want to miss…unless you have meddling parents ;). Which most of us on CC probably do. Just hope you’re nerdy enough that your parents won’t suspect anything…</p>
<p>I didn’t go to prom my junior year. And I won’t go my senior year either. We have what’s called “post-prom” which is MUCH more fun AND MUCH cheaper. It starts at midnight and is a big party with food, games, inflatables, and prizes such as computers, TVs, etc.</p>
<p>I’ve only had one old enough to go to prom. It was her thing…she wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Same is true for homecoming. But there was this group of kids who sat out homecoming for other activities. They made these really cool anti-homecoming mums and I think they had a blast. (My d covered their activities for yearbook I believe.) It’s just whatever floats your boat…as long as you are with good friends doing what you enjoy. Especially for senior year, you should make good memories and not worry about how you make them.</p>
<p>It’s a good opportunity for guys and girls to practice their courtesy lessons. Meeting the parents, opening the door, taking girl to dinner, being a gentleman/lady, etc. A good courtship rehearsal. And all that later stuff…hmmmm don’t know about that.</p>
<p>Fortunately both of my kids had sensible friends who didn’t feel that the prom needed to be a money spending competition. They both went with good friends (not boyfriend/girlfriend), and with a bunch of couples. Both had a good time, and both were glad they went. Both also only went as seniors.</p>
<p>I am a high school senoir. At my school, we have junior prom and senior luau. I attended prom last year and absolutely despised it. I usually like dances but this one was just way too hectic. I would, however, suggest that you attend. Limit what you spend on a dress/accessories/etc. to cut spending but it is an important part of the high school experience.</p>
<p>Last year I went through part of the prom experience with my gay best friend…and while getting dressed up was rather amusing, we only stayed at the dance for about 45 minutes because it wasn’t any fun and most of our friends weren’t there. (Junior year)</p>
<p>This year, now that I have a very steady boyfriend, I can think of nothing sillier than going to prom and wouldn’t dream of going through the effort of attending when we could instead spend the night with friends playing games and watching movies. </p>
<p>Although it may just be my opinion, I think prom is one of those things you have to go to once just to say that you’ve been…but it’s certainly not worth putting much effort or money into.</p>
<p>Going to prom< and dinner beforehand, around here is just the prelude to Project Prom, which all the kids love! Many go in groups of friends, with or without dates, it doesn’t matter, and because they are with friends, they have fun. At Project Prom, they are locked in in the HS, all night long, play games, earn fake bucks, buy things in the “college store” and start their college or apartment supplies - luggage, dishes, towels, sheets, coolers, book store and other gift certificates, etc. with their winnings. Parents volunteer, and it is a terrific night. Keeps them safe and occupied. Some kids don’t go to prom, but go to Project Prom.</p>
<p>I have a feeling attitudes on this basically boil down to whether or not you can get a date who is not related to you. However as a parent who has been through this I have to say the costs are getting way out of hand. In an age of increasing informality I think it good that at least occassionally our kids adopt the behaviors, manners, and dress of a civilized society. On the other hand the one upmanship that frequently goes on and the requires huge sums of money to stay in the running is not a good thing.</p>
<p>So I guess what I am saying is I think proms are a good thing as long as the costs involved don’t endup excluding kids from participating in a meaningful way. Once they turn into a competition of who can come with the biggest limo or the most expensive coif things have gone awry.</p>
<p>My oldest went to prom-
Although she had taken a girlfriend to the dance jr year, senior year she went with a friend who was male.
Her class was only 18 student & it was a PRETTY BIG DEAL.
The entire class had dinner together beforehand at the “Columbia tower club” although afterwards they all did different things- D and her date went and played video games in the Udistrict</p>
<p>I imagine younger D will also go to the prom as a senior, but probably with a bunch of friends- they don’t really go all out- for example for winter ball, she wore a cotton knit dress from American Apparel. When I suggested that sometimes kids dress more formally for the winter dance she said * Mom, I have a Dress on, this is dressed up* !
:)</p>
<p>Ah. The Columbia Tower Club. Home of the world famous women’s restroom.</p>
<p>My wife was fine with the club, but the restroom scared the beejesus out of her.</p>
<p>Older S went both jr. and Sr. year. Both years he had a steady girlfriend (different girl each year) and of course the girls were dying to go so he had no choice. All of his friends went too but I think he would have skipped it if he cuold have gotten away with it. It cost so much money that hewuld have rather put into something else. I certainly don’t think either prom was a high school highlight…now spring break was a different story.</p>
<p>Younger S is a jr. this year with no girlfriend. I will be surprised if he goes but I guess stranger things have happened. I would be happier if he and his group of friends decided not to go.</p>
<p>tarhunt- Im not normally a fan of floor to ceiling windows either- but I did like our room at the sheraton wall centre in Vancouver ( but I was careful not to lean up against it)</p>
<p>I think if your friends are going, that you may wish you went, but if few people you know are attending prom, why not organize your own transitional party?</p>
<p>( I also think it is a senior thing-for those who do go- otherwise it is just a dance not the PROM)</p>
<p>My daughter is head of the prom committee this year, so I guess she is going. She is not as excited as her junior prom, I think she may be too wrapped with the planning. Many parents host pre-prom parties where parents are invited. It is very nice since we all get to take pictures of our kids before the prom. Some parents will also get talked into having post prom parties where kids will sleep over. The post prom party my daughter went to last year, no car was allowed in or out of the driveway after all invitees were in, keys were taken away until next morning. I don’t think too much money was spent for her junior prom - new dress, new shoes. Most kids bought their own tickets and split cost of limo, my daughter decided to skip the limo. I think it’s a rite of passage for HS.</p>
<p>I think it really depends on the kid. My daughter really likes that sort of thing – she went to the prom at her high school all 4 years. In 9th & 10th grade, she had to go as the guest of a junior or senior - so in 9th grade she went with a gay male friend, in 10th grade she went with a girl… and then in 11th & 12th grade she had a boyfriend and went with him. </p>
<p>My son was the student body treasurer his senior year – which at his school meant that he was basically in charge of financing the prom and arranging the venue & budget, so of course he went. He took our video camera and then brought the video home later to show me – so I really appreciated sharing in the fun. </p>
<p>I never was into that sort of thing as a teenager – I still can’t stand dressy affairs – so I really don’t quite get it. But then I went to a large, traditional high school – both my kids went to much smaller magnets, and maybe there’s more of a sense of community at a smaller school that creates a different atmosphere.</p>
<p>I plan to go to my senior prom. It’s kind of expensive ($90 per person - including the graduation cerimony and all that stuff) but I don’t go to parties and stuff very often so once in a lifetime won’t be that big a deal lol.
Plus it’ll be AFTER everyone’s gone to college so I’ll get to know where everyone in the class went to.</p>