AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

By

Judy Bluhm

Did you go to the prom? For most Americans, “prom night” is a landmark; a once in a lifetime event that designates the ending of an era. High school days come to a close, and the prom is one shining moment of how good we were, how grand life could be, how young we were. For those adults who attended their prom, they can’t seem to forget it. It’s one of “those brilliant memories” that never entirely fades.

Proms began in America more than a century ago and were sophisticated tea parties for male students and their wealthy families. They transitioned to high schools where they became a casual, but inclusive event for teenage boys and girls on the brink of graduation. Proms evolved in the 1950s to fashion statements and were over-the-top celebrations in the 1990s. Today, proms have evolved to fun gatherings, less about “the big date” but still carry a hefty price tag. The average cost for a teenager going to prom in America is over 900 bucks!

Proms scare adults! Mention the word “prom” and parents everywhere begin to collectively worry. It brings up the most basic of all insecurities – that our children are just about grown up, they may (God forbid) do more than dance, they may actually take a sip (or gulp) of alcohol.

Some distraught father in Phoenix dressed up like a hotel waiter so he could spy on his daughter at her prom. One teenager moaned that her mother sent her ten text messages the night of her prom, just to “check-in.” Hey, these are frightening times. Why shouldn’t parents and grandparents be freaked out at the prospect of a sweet, innocent teenager venturing out into the world to make a memory that will become “a night like none other?”

Some things never change. There is a thrill when buying a prom dress, picking out a tuxedo and learning how to dance. A recent survey claimed that fifty percent of mothers cry when they see their sons or daughters dressed up for the prom. Most fathers say that it is the single biggest “night of worry.’ Evidently no one goes to sleep early on prom night.

Ahh, the prom. This is just another one of life’s incredible passages. It is fun to witness teenagers stepping out of their sneakers and jeans and metamorphosing into the adults that they will become. It is the symbolic “ride of a lifetime” in a limo or behind the wheel of a parent’s car, into an unforgettable event that somehow defines a “before and after.” It has become an American custom that helps shape our high school experiences. The prom is one huge snapshot that stands up against time.

Parents, try to relax! The kids will be fine. There’s nothing as lovely as a chiffon dress and a tuxedo with a pink carnation. Feeling worried? Take a deep breath and remain calm. Maybe get out the old photo albums and look back at how hopeful you were at seventeen. The future starts with prom-ises of a fun night.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local realtor. Contact Judy at [email protected]or visit www.aroundthebluhmintown.com.