The Final Prom
Have you ever gone to Prom? Have you ever had a child who went to Prom?
It's an exciting time. It's the same for High School students all over America, but somehow that night feels special. Like no one has ever experienced the drama, anticipation, and preparation that is Prom.
I have four children, and among all of them, I have bought dresses, shoes, suits, and flowers for 10 proms. It was all so familiar. But not. Why?
Because it's the last one.
My youngest son is graduating from high school in a few weeks. I made his date a bouquet, took pictures at the house, kissed him goodbye and yelled, "Have a great time!" and sent them on their way. Then I turned around and cried. My daughter and son looked at me and shook their heads. They knew I'd cry. I knew I'd cry. I always cry senior year. A lot. It's the end of an era. The end of Friday nights with a house filled with kids raiding my fridge, hanging in the hot tub, watching movies in the basement, and running in and out of the house, with more noise and laughter than you could imagine.
That's it.
Summer comes and goes so quickly and they're off to college. But this time felt different. My baby will be off to college too. The house will be a little quieter. I will have just a little more time on my hands. There will be fewer dishes and laundry to do. But I will miss it all.
It starts with Prom. Then it's his 18th birthday. Then graduation. It's almost over.
I hate change. And there's always change.
- Someone is graduating
- Someone is coming back home again
- Someone is hurting, sick, or sad
- Someone is in a new relationship
- Someone has a new job
- Someone leaves.
Again.
- No more sporting events.
- No more plays.
- No more field days.
- No more summer reading.
- No more parent-teacher conferences.
- No more report cards.
No more Proms.
This time it's final. This one felt different. This is what it feels like to face the future knowing it is the last time for lots of things. Our routine will forever be changed. But we will still have events to attend and accomplishments to celebrate.
Maybe it won't be homecoming, but it will be a wedding. Maybe it won't be required summer reading, but it will be sharing your favorite book with your adult child and discussing the ways it has changed you. Maybe it won't be a HS basketball game, but it will be an intermural volleyball game or a kickball game at a church picnic where your daughter is in a game of kids versus leaders, and she is the surprise secret weapon on the leaders' team!
Maybe it will be different, but different doesn't have to mean worse. It just may mean, well, different. And that is ok.
It's growing. It's changing. It's living happily ever after, after. After the final prom.
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