Prom

I know the world looks very different for all of us right now–city to city, state to state, country to country–we are all going through our different COVID-19 pandemic experiences. In North Dakota, we’ve had our share of pandemic ups and downs. We’ve had really scary numbers (back in the late fall). We’ve had cancellations of important high school events (Prom 2020, Homecoming 2021). But we’ve also had some good things too. My kids go to a school where the student body and staff cooperate with mask-wearing. Since March we’ve been very lucky to have a smooth vaccine rollout with plenty of stock available for anyone who wants it.

Somehow my kids got lucky. April 17, 2021 in Fargo, North Dakota the stars aligned and a pandemic-conscious prom happened. And I’m really grateful for that. Beyond grateful. I haven’t seen my kids this excited about a social event for a very, very long time. At the moment of its announcement (6 weeks before the big day) prom talk started in our house. Lots of prom talk. What to wear (can we get masks to match the formal wear?), who to go with (W was back and forth on asking someone to go with her or go it alone), how were we going to make this work for J? (parents weren’t allowed at the dance so we would need help from J’s teachers). It was a frenzied few weeks–normally it would have driven me crazy. But you know what? After this last year, I’ve learned to chill, roll with it, and just really cherish it.

With both kids vaccinated (at the time of prom, J was fully vaccinated, W had her first shot and was a week out from her 2nd shot) and with all of the social distancing protocols the school had in place for The Grand March (a real promenade! I’ve never seen that before. Has anyone reading this ever participated in a real high school promenade?) and dance, we felt really good about the kids attending. Just as important, we felt that the kids really needed this socially and emotionally. This was J’s one and only shot for prom. Both kids haven’t had very many opportunity to just go out and have fun with friends this year. I’m so grateful that my kids were able to go.

I’m grateful to the prom committee who put this event on for the kids with 6 WEEKS TIME to make it happen. The decorations, the details, the post prom activities and food were phenomenal.

I’m also thankful to all the people who made this night a special night for J. J’s special ed teacher volunteered to chaperone the dance (since parents weren’t allowed) so J could have a good time. I’m also grateful for one of J’s classmates who wanted to walk the Grand March with J. I’m also grateful for another one of J’s friends who was concerned J didn’t have anyone to walk with and volunteered to walk with J, not knowing he already had someone to walk with. The students and adults who reached out to J and to us to make sure J had a good time (of course) made me a wee bit emotional 😉

I know my kids were lucky. I know that not all high school juniors and seniors will get a prom experience this year, which makes me even more grateful for all of the work and grace that came together to allow J and W to have a memorable night.