drinking and driving

My Daughter’s Prom Night

You may recall my recent post where I talked about my daughter’s upcoming prom, and the various prom safety tips that I believe are extremely important for parents to discuss with their graduating seniors. Well my daughter’s prom came and went already, and I’m happy to say that all went well, and she arrived home exhausted from a wonderful night of dancing with her senior classmates. Wasn’t she an adorable looking baby? She’s all grown up now and about to head off to college. I feel so old now.

One thing that didn’t turn out so well was how my daughter’s prom date flaked out at the last minute, but my daughter took it in stride and still had a great time at her prom. This l.o.s.e.r. was of the opinion that he was “doing her a favor” by going to the prom with my daughter, and that she was expected to buy him “a new set of earrings” as a way of paying him back. Oh really?! My response to that had an R-rating for sure, so I’ll not repeat here what I said about that, but his ears are probably still ringing from the tongue lashing he got.

She’s my baby girl and she’ll always be my baby girl until she turns 82 years old. Throughout prom night, she kept text messaging me to tell me she was dancing to “old school music” such as my many Motown favorites, and she ended up with sore feet as proof that “old school” music can still rock the dance floor. Wait a minute, did she just call me old?

Once she graduates, she’ll be going off to college to become a famous Music Producer. I get to be the first to say, “I knew you when”! She’s got a lot of musical talent, and plays a few different instruments, and makes up her own “beats” that inevitably cause your foot to start tapping. Yes of course I take full credit for her musical talents.

All in all, she had a wonderful and safe senior prom, and I’m so proud of her and her many accomplishments. Here she is standing in front of the party room at Southfork Ranch (where the OLD television show “Dallas” was filmed).

Baby Girl’s Senior Prom went off without a hitch. She’s actually glad she went to prom by herself and met up with other friends, ’cause she had a blast and she’ll never forget the fun she had on prom night. It was difficult at first to come up any graduation gift ideas on my own, but she’s been reminding me (over and over) about the various graduation gifts she’s got on her graduation wish-list. I think she definitely deserves something nice, don’t you?

Prom Safety Tips For Graduating Senior and Parents

Posted in Children, Family, Friendship, Humor, Parenting, Personal, Relationships, Teenagers on May 15, 2008

Tags: Tags: child safety tips for prom, drinking and driving, driving under the influence, high school graduation ceremonies, Prom night, prom safety

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Prom Safety: Child Safety Tips For Graduating Seniors and Parents

My daughter is graduating from high school this year, so we’ve been busy shopping for the prom dress, jewelry and shoes, scheduling appointments with the hairstylist and French manicurist, all in anticipation for prom night. Proms are expensive, with the average tab totaling somewhere between $800 – $1000.00 or more depending on how extravagant you get and can afford.

While high school seniors are entranced with excitement about graduation ceremonies, prom and after parties, parents like myself are primarily focused on prom safety and making sure my child arrives home after prom unscathed, with nary a scratch.

I’ve already had “The Talk” with my daughter, and we both understand each others wants and expectations for prom night, and I’ll be giving her young escort from school a talking to as well and clearly stating my position on sticking to the itinerary with no exceptions allowed.

My daughter laughed when I told her I needed this young man’s full name (and his parent’s names), phone number, address, height and body weight, any distinguishing marks, tattoo’s or body piercing so I can pick him out of a police lineup.

I wasn’t kidding. I’m well aware of the causes of teenage drinking as well as date rape statistics and the risky behaviors associated with graduating seniors attending prom, and I refuse to put my trust in someone I don’t know personally, regardless of how long my daughter and her prom date have known each other at school.

My husband and I will be driving them to prom, foregoing the expense of hiring a stretch limo, and we’ll be picking them up when the party ends at 1 a.m. After-parties are notorious for drinking and driving under the influence, including parties hosted at homes where parents have agreed to closely supervise party-goers, but there will be no after parties for my daughter where she may be put at risk.

Vehicular accidents and deaths during prom night are well documented, and news stations are flooded every year with story after story of young seniors who don’t make it home alive after prom, having been killed by a drunk driver or other drinking related accidents. Even though I’ve read recent claims and statistics that say “65% of 12th graders disapprove of consuming five or more drinks once or twice each weekend”, it’s the other 35% of teens drinking and driving that concerns me.

According to the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, 39% of high school senior males say it is acceptable to force sex with a girl who is intoxicated or high on drugs. The statistics of high school teens drinking and driving on prom night shows these students are seven times more likely to have sex, and much less likely to use any protection or condoms, thereby increasing their chances of pregnancy and STD’s.

I certainly want my daughter to enjoy herself at prom, and I have told her so many times, but as a parent I also need to make sure that everything possible is done to ensure her safety at prom, until she arrives back home safe and sound once the party is over. Her job is to have fun at prom, and my job is make sure she is alive and well the next day to talk about it.

Further Reading:

Senior Prom Safety Tips For Teens and Parents