12 Prom Tips For Dad
January 17, 2020
Prom night is one of the most anticipated nights of the year for high school kids. I still remember my Prom night as if it had happened yesterday. I vividly remember my date and how beautiful she looked, my friends and how much fun they had, the music that played, the laughter and the joy of knowing we were all about to enter the next chapter in our lives. Every little detail is still ingrained in my head, even after all these years.
Recently, I got to relive the excitement and the jitters all over again. But, this time it was different. This time around, Prom represented one of my biggest fears in life coming true. This time around, it was my daughter's Prom.
I can honestly say that I've never been more nervous in my entire life, not even on the day she was born. I kept thinking, over and over again, of all the things that could go wrong that night: boys, drinking, after-parties, sex!
But we made it. She had a blast and got home safe and sound.
Today, I want to do my fellow Dads out there a service. Today, I'm going to share with you guys some tips that are going to help you get through that night without losing your sanity or your daughter's respect.
Here are my top 12 prom tips for Dads.
01 - Talk to her:
Talk to your daughter. Be direct and communicate your fears. Tell her how much she means to you and that you want her to have a memorable night, but that you also need her to be safe.
02 - Get involved:
A lot of dads let mom take care of all the prom prep. Get involved, let her know you care and that you understand the significance of the night.
03 - Don't take it personally when you get shut down:
Offer to help but realize that most daughters won't care for daddy getting too involved. Don't take it personally or think that she's trying to hide something from you.
04 - Know the schedule:
Communicate with other parents and school staff. Be aware of when Prom starts, when Prom ends, what the after-party situation will be like. It is vital that you know, for her sake and yours, what the night's schedule will be like.
05 - Be kind to her date:
I know for most of you this will be extremely difficult. It certainly was for me. However, showing vitriol and disrespect to her date is the fastest way to earn contempt. And the last thing you want on prom night is a contemptuous teenage daughter.
06 - Respect her fashion choices:
Please, respect her decisions. There's no need for disdainful comments about her dress, her hairstyle, her heels. Prom night is her night and you should keep your personal tastes to yourself.
07 - Take pictures:
Most kids these days will outright reject the idea of their parents taking pictures on prom night. However, you should stand your ground on this and politely insist that you be allowed to take pictures. If you don't, both you and your daughter will regret it in the future.
08 - Don't cry:
Please don't cry. Keep those tears in check, at least until she's out the door. Then you can bawl like a newborn if you want to.
09 - Set up an emergency code:
Work out an emergency code with your daughter. Some sort of signal that she can quickly text you in case of an emergency. Respect the code and be ready to drop everything if it comes up.
10 - Know the driver:
Find out who is driving her to and from the prom venue. If she's riding a limousine service, make sure the company is reputable and has all permits in check.
11 - Trust her:
Trust her. Few things will push your child away from you more than not trusting them to know better. Even if they don't show it, deep down, all daughters want their daddies to be proud of them.
12 - Trust yourself:
Trust yourself. You've done an excellent job so far. Your daughter respects herself, and she appreciates the trust you've placed in her. Nothing has to change just because prom night rolled around.
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