<p>Our daughter didn’t have anyone ask her either. So her girlfriends 8 of them all got together and will hire a limo to take them to the prom. No one misses out - just because
no boy asked them. They are so excited about going to their prom.</p>
<p>I went to the prom without a date.</p>
<p>It was fun.</p>
<p>Really not a big deal, just make sure she knows she’ll have a BF eventually and no need to rush.</p>
<p>I would be careful about telling her it will be better in college. Her dating life may very well improve in college, but then again it could remain exactly the same and for exactly the same reasons. After all, it is still high school boys a year older who go to college! I think many boys don’t mature by female standards until around age 26 or 28. Also, if indeed she is sending out some kind of “I’m not interested” vibe, that has to resolve first before she will receive greater male interest.</p>
<p>When I was in high school, for a long while I had no dates. Desperate, I begged my girlfriends to tell me what was wrong with me. I was smart, played sports, and was relatively pretty. They didn’t know, so they asked a few boys. The answer? “She’s too smart–it’s intimidating.” My friends assured me I’d find kindred male spirits in college, and that I could start afresh with no one knowing I was the straight A goody-two-shoes girl. So off I went, hopeful. I can’t say things improved dramatically at college. At one point a male friend told me that now that he knew me better, he saw that I was actually intelligent. But when he first met me on campus, he thought I was an airhead because I was always smiling and saying “hi” to people. Guess I couldn’t win! The high school boys thought I was too smart, and the college boys thought I was a dumb blonde.</p>
<p>“I think many boys don’t mature by female standards until around age 26 or 28.”</p>
<p>Hence th eternal popularity of male grad students and faculty. And don’t just say yuk. Some very successful women are married to their former professors.</p>
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<p>My husband was a grad student and I was a freshman when we met. We realized that I was 18 and he was 24 about halfway through our first date. Each of us thought the other was a senior. Uncomfortable moment.</p>
<p>Ten years later, though, it’s worked out well…!</p>
<p>My daughters go to a small charter school that has instituted a different sort of prom - no short dresses, sit down dinner, no dj - dance band playing music from a bygone era and kids taking ballroom dance lessons after school leading up to prom. Information on dining ettiquette (detailed instructions on American vs continental and instructions on the wearing of opera gloves came home before the event as well). Older daughter went with friend/dance partner both years and had a good time. Younger daughter went by herself and also had a good time this junior year.</p>
<p>If our prom had been typical I think both my girls would have passed on it and used the saved dollars for something else.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be too worried about your daughter’s long term social outlook, it seems that the typical prom experience was not the event of her dreams. I would encourage her to get involved and stay involved in things that matter to her - she will find like minded people there and her relationships will naturally grow out of that common interest.</p>
<p>If she thinks she would like to dance - not bump and grind - look up local ballroom dance studios in your area and see what they offer. My kids were able to spend many summer weekend nights dancing til midnight for a very low fee and now they and their friends can waltz, rhumba, cha cha and tango. It gave them an opportunity to build up some social skills without the pressure of dating or any unwanted entanglements.</p>
<p>I feel your pain, I have a handsome, kind, athletic, smart son who didn’t go to his prom either.</p>
<p>He’s really into sports and has friends, yet has never been on a date either.</p>
<p>Maybe we should fix them up? Just kidding, but I think it bothers me a whole lot more than it does him. I went to every prom and dance when I was a kid, and so did my H…I’m thinking maybe my son is just immature? He’s also one of the youngest in his grade.</p>
<p>I have to look on the bright side, at least he has a healthy bank account and isn’t spending money on dates. What else can I do?</p>
<p>I wonder if the boys and girls who don’t go to proms are more likely those who don’t have opposite-sex siblings.</p>
<p>Me, I didn’t even bother to go to prom. It was on a “just ask anybody out and go” bases, meaning that going to prom together with anybody doesn’t mean anything. It was used to encourage shy students to participate. I still didn’t bother.</p>
<p>Some people don’t give a crap about that stuff.</p>
<p>My prom is the 11th of June, the first day of the World Cup, when Mexico plays South Africa…so I think I’ll pass!</p>
<p>The prettier the girl, the more afraid of rejection boys are :)</p>
<p>My kids’ school discourages prom attendance by making the deadline for buying tickets well before the prom (3-4 weeks at least). Oh, how many deals could have been made after that deadline!</p>
<p>I really agree with teriwt. Not to aim at OP because I don’t know how her situation really played out, but in general, parents need to be careful not to lead a kid into making a bigger deal out of something than it otherwise would have been for them.</p>
<p>(BTW, my parents tried to get my older brother to take me to my prom - he refused.)</p>
<p>DontPanic1, they have to do that with the prom tickets if it’s an event like ours, which is at a ballroom and includes dinner. They have to be able to give the venue a count by a deadline, which is a few weeks ahead. </p>
<p>D is a class officer. Planning a prom is like planning a wedding. There are deadlines and details that aren’t obvious at a casual glance. Her school had a bunch of kids buy tickets at the last minute, and the venue had to set up an extra table after everyone got there and they were short on seats. Luckily they didn’t run out of food.</p>
<p>Yes, that makes sense about the planning. Many of these posts appear to be describing last minute maneuvering, so it made me assume that was the norm.</p>