Well, we survived the prom—of course, just one more of those milestones in family life that come and go in a flurry of anticipation and effort. Judging from the digital pictures and the exhausted teenagers, it looks as though all the effort and energy was worth it and it was a good, memorable time, at least for my daughter and her friends.
Yesterday afternoon as we were downloading the photos from the camera—included the “before” photos of my daughter and her friend in sweats and curlers, the “process” pictures as we came up with hair dos and I stood in the bathroom giving eyeliner lessons, and finally the emerging of girls who’d instantly evolved into glamorous women having their picture taken in front of the blooming rhododendron bush in front of the house, my daughter was telling me the “scoop” and returning to phone calls to her dad and grandmother to repeat the stories over and over again.
But, now it is Monday…back to school for the final few weeks of 11th grade. It is all finals, projects, and the approaching SAT test to worry about. The fussed-over dress is lying in a pile on the cluttered bedroom floor with the new shoes that only caused a few painful blisters before being tucked under her arm as she walked to the I-HOP barefoot for the after prom midnight breakfast. Back to teenage reality for a little while longer, but with the memories of feeling very grown-up and ravishing for an evening of gowns, rhinestones, pearls, suits and flowers.
As for me, I’m sure I share the experience with millions of parents—after all the fuss and flutter, watching as a “promise” of the woman to be comes walking down the stairs—looking suddenly old, polished, confident, and completely independent as she rushes out the door for one more growing-up adventure…
See Also: The Prom–Part Three