Prom night can be a very important night for teenagers, indeed. This is especially true of senior prom. Not only is it the chance to cast an impressive figure and socialize in a way that feels much more adult than the typical hangout. It also typically comes with saying goodbye to a lot of friends with whom we’re not going to be spending a lot more time. As such, if your daughter is feeling nervous about her prom, that’s to be expected. But you can help.
Photo by Becerra Govea Photo from Pexels
Spend time getting ready for it
A little bonding over it and going through the process of making sure that she’s ready for the prom can do a lot to quell some incorrect assumptions of expectations she might have of the evening. A little bonding over beauty and skincare while picking up the things that she needs or going out to get your hair done together can give you the opportunity to chat casually and honestly, allowing her to express herself and work those nerves out.
Help her feel beautiful
At the same time that you’re getting her ready for the prom, you can also help build her self-esteem and confidence so that any concern that she might have about looking weird or out of place can fly right out the window. You can go even further, helping her with the selection of the prom dresses. A little expense is worth helping her feel like a million bucks on what is going to feel like the biggest social event of her life. It isn’t really that big a deal, but it can definitely feel like it to a teenager.
Having “the talk”
Hopefully, you’re not only just now talking about the birds and bees with a daughter on her way to senior prom. However, let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. Teenagers, especially those in relationships, put a lot of stock into the romantic nature of the prom and there is sometimes an expectation, explicit or unstated, of sex. It might not be the most comfortable subject to broach if you don’t talk about it regularly, but you can talk about romance on prom night to learn how your daughter is feeling, what expectations she has, and how you can help. Taking a hardline stance often isn’t the most effective approach, but you should be honest about your concerns and what can be done to quell them, such as safe sex practices.
The peer pressure
Those expectations of intimacy and sex are part and parcel of the greater presence of peer pressure on prom night. There is a lot of societal expectation and sometimes it’s quite direct and potentially harmful, especially when it comes to drinking, Talking to your teen about peer pressure can help them better know what to expect and know when they’re being pressured in ways they don’t want.
Some nerves are healthy and can be experienced without too much detraction from the evening. However, if your daughter is worried beyond the point of being able to enjoy the evening, the tips above can help.
Leave a Reply