Are You And Your Teen Prepared For Prom? 9 Questions To Ask First
Do you need to set a prom budget? “Teenagers can get carried away when getting ready for the prom. Buying tuxedos, dresses, tickets, renting limousines and choosing a restaurant, all can be extremely expensive. “
Does your child need help selecting a pre-prom dinner location? “Many proms don’t have dinners so the teenage couples choose a restaurant and dine out either before the prom or after. Selecting the right restaurant can play an important role in making the night perfect. Your child should make that decision wisely by considering the budget, the cuisine served and how far the restaurant is from the prom.”
Do you need to offer viable alternatives for choices you’d like to steer them away from? This can be as simple as helping your daughter afford a professional spray tan rather than using a tanning bed or as involved as throwing an after party at your place.
Do you need to talk with your teen extensively about their plans? Plans could include choice of drivers, to the evening’s itinerary, to who they’ll be spending time with. You may decide that you need to talk to other parents to verify the proposed plans.
Do you need to talk about drugs and alcohol with your teen? “42% of youths who talk with parents regularly about substance abuse will just say no.”
Do you have a teen sensitive to peer pressure who may need ‘an out’ on prom night? Let them know they can use you as an excuse for saying no to anything and that you’ll also pick them up from anywhere, anytime they need.
Do you need to talk with your teen about sexual pressure for prom night? Many teens who otherwise may not have problems in this area could still use another conversation before the prom. Lee Berg, a Lafayette-based family counselor advises: “Besides the obvious threats of drinking alcohol and consuming drugs, proms may be an occasion where someone may feel pressured to become sexually active before they are ready. Alcohol fuels the bad judgment, but a lot of times, someone feels they have to have sex on prom night.” A gentle role playing could be talking your child through ‘the morning after’ and ask them what choices they would be glad they made vs. regrets they may have the morning after prom.
Do you need to set a curfew for your child or are they able to come home at a good time once all the fun is winding down?
Do you need to ask for geo tracking? “If you aren’t comfortable giving your child keys to the car with no idea where they are, give them the keys under the condition that they turn on “Find My Friends” or another app that allows you to see their exact location.”
