TEENAGE DRAMA...Oh, What Fun!

I'm so glad it's time for "Wordful Wednesday" hosted by my friend, Angie, over at 7 Clown Circus, because I have a whole lot to say this time around! I know, that's so out of character for me, right? Please drop by Angie's blog and see what all the other participants are yakking about this week.

Now, as many of you know, it's prom season and girls and guys are making preparations for this unforgettable event! I, in fact, took Brittany out this past weekend to find her shoes and jewelry. Here's her shoes we ended up finding at DSW. They were originally priced at $60, but they were on sale for half-off, so I paid only $30 for them! Score one for ol' mom! They're very sharp-looking with rhinestones across the toes. The downside is they have 3-inch heels, so Brittany's feet will be killing her! She said that she plans to kick off her shoes and dance in bare feet, anyway. Now that I think about it, maybe I should have invested in a cheap pair of flip flops!
Here's the necklace and earrings we found at Accessories Necessities for only $24.99. They're so sparkly and shiny! Tiffany's has nothing on these babies! :)
We already have her dress, of course, so we can scratch those major items off the list. Now, this is where it all goes south! Brittany had planned to go with her boyfriend and a group of 23 friends to dinner, then on to the prom. Well, there are two girls in the group, one whose father is an orthopedic surgeon, who've come up with THE PLAN. They wanted to rent a fur bus at a cost of $30 pp, then go to The Melting Pot in downtown Atlanta for $35 pp. Oh, and one of these girls is having a before and after prom party (no drinking, drugs, smoking, etc!) at her house at a cost of $15 pp. Can you see where all of this is headed?

There have been a number of kids in the group (Brittany and her boyfriend, included) who've decided that they don't want to spend that kind of money on eating dinner before the prom. I mean, we're talking a minimum of $80 just to ride to the restaurant and eat dinner...double that for a couple! So, Brittany, along with several others, suggested that they eat at a more reasonably priced restaurant, such as Provino's. The two girls who planned everything canned that idea real quick! They said they weren't about to eat their prom dinner at a restaurant where others might be wearing SHORTS! It's become the biggest fiasco ever! Last I heard, they've decided to forgo the fur bus and eat at another restaurant closer by, but that's equally as expensive. Brittany and her boyfriend are getting so frustrated, they're now thinking about doing their own thing.

Now, I failed to mention that the before and after party is an all-night sleepover for both girls and guys! Everyone is still wanting to attend the party...yes, even Brittany! We had quite a "discussion" about it last night! Chris and I both feel uncomfortable allowing her to go to the girl's house for a party because we don't know her or her parents! Most of the other kids we know very well. We don't have the assurance that those kids will be properly supervised! Secondly, we certainly don't like the idea of her spending the night there with boys...friends or not! Please don't get me wrong...Brittany is a very good girl and I thank the Lord up above everyday. However, things can and do happen with kids her age, particularly when adequate adult supervision is lacking! Plus, it's a proven fact that the reasoning portion of the brain, the pre-frontal cortex, doesn't fully develop until about the age of 21, which makes it hard for teens to understand the connection between actions and consequences. Brittany is a prime example of this. She can't seem to grasp why her daddy and I have reservations about the party...we're just being meanies. If it were a bunch of girls, we might be more inclined to let her stay, but with boys being invited, that's a whole different story.

We realize that as your child gets older, especially when they turn 17, you have to start loosening the reigns and allow them room to grow and mature. We, in fact, suggested to Brittany that she attend the party for a few hours after the prom (we were trying to COMPROMISE!), but that was a NO-GO! She feels that we're ruining a memorable night for her because most of her other friends, including her best friend, are staying all night. Are we being unreasonable or unjust? Her ex-boyfriend, Andrew, will be spending the night, too!

I would LOVE to hear your take on the situation we're facing. Would YOU allow your 17 year old daughter to attend a sleepover party for guys and girls? My feeling is that, as a parent, you sometimes have to take a stand for what you feel is right and stop worrying about being your child's best friend. PARENT is a verb, not a noun. Oh, I feel so much better now, but I would love to hear your thoughts! For those of you who've never raised a teenager...just you wait! Uh, oh...I think I just saw another gray hair pop in on the top of my head....I WONDER WHY! LOL!

"Adolescence is a period of rapid changes. Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years."~Author Unknown



P.S. Abby got her palatal expander put in, but her mouth is really sore and she talks kind of "funny". She said it's like having a big glob of peanut butter stuck to the roof of her mouth! I have to give the expander a turn with a key twice each day for 3 weeks, but she'll have to wear it for 4-6 months. It's expanding her upper jaw so there will be ample room for her teeth. The next phase will be to get her braces on. Brittany said the "loved" volunteering with the Special Olympics. Her job was to hug the children as they crossed the finish line...that's exactly what I did in college! She said they were all such an inspiration! Thank you for your prayers!