My Daughter's First Formal Dance - Why am I so anxy?

Virginia, what a wonderful after-dance post for us to read!!!

Congratulations on raising a girl who got through her first dance with flying colors, and congratulations to yourself for surviving!!!

Thank you sooooo much for all your thoughts! It was an interesting night for my daughter and I. She had a great time and danced a lot. We had a couple of hiccups: her shoes broke so I had to get her another pair. We forgot to get the boy a corsage, so I ran to the flower shop to get one made. Thank God the flower lady was willing to make one on the spot after I pleaded...I missed the limo at one girl's house, drove to the beach house where pictures were being taken, missed that one too and finallly caught up with the limo on the freeway after following it for about 5 miles. I knew the next stop was dinner at an Italian restaurant, so I got there before them. My daughter was surprised to see me there but my excuse was the corsage. I was the only parent this time and I felt embarrassed because I did not want the kids to think I was following them. Later on, I showed up at the beach house to pick her up but no one was there. My heart stopped. Luckily I had one of the moms' phone number and she told me I was at the wrong house...I had followed the written itinerary the girls had put together but somehow during the night this important piece of information changed and I was not aware of it. My daughter was waiting at the first home where they got all dressed up earlier. My heart was pounding and I couldn't wait to hear all about her night! She told me she had fun, she danced and enjoyed being with friends. One of the things she said was the highlight of her night was that when another boy was hitting on her, her date told him to back off. He took care of my little girl as he had promised. A night of fun and apprehension that I will treasure forever and so will my baby.

I was emotional reading your message, too, although I have a 2 year old (son) and will not be having these fears/anxieties for a few years. Preschool is what is next for us, and it is hard to imagine anyone taking better care of him than me!

I guess the only thing I can offer, is that there are many parents who feel the same way you do, Virginia, and have little boys. I'm raising my son to be respectful, kind, thoughtful and polite, for the benefit of future dates, dates's parents (like yourself!), and for his benefit in the "real world", of course. I was so happy when I learned that I was pregnant with a boy, as I felt like it was my chance to raise "a good one"! :-) (LOL--I just re-read that, and I would raise a "good" girl as well)...I hope my point is coming across the way it is intended! There are some really nice, sweet, thoughtful, considerate boys out there, that have a good heart, strong mind and strong sense-of-self. That's what I'm trying to say!

Can't wait to hear how your daughter did at her first dance!

Virginia, I'm very touched by your experience and your emotions. I have a dozen nieces and nephews from age 1 to age 24, and I have to tell you that every time one of them takes that leap it startles me. And I'm not even their mother!

As adults, we're used to time feeling like it goes fast and faster. You not only can remember her toys as a baby, but also her first tooth, her first steps, her first day of school and every thing since then. I see my college niece going to a formal ball, and I think, where's the little girl who sat on my lap for story after story? Where's the 12-year-old who begged to go to the Disney movie? Instead, what's on her mind is her boyfriend, her studies, her friends, whether she'll get the "cool" dorm next year, and if she'll find a summer job. They lurch so quickly into Life, and we're just not ready for it.

My 15-year-old niece just sprouted taller by about a foot, got her braces off and got a figure, all in about six months -- I am not ready to see a graceful young woman in place of my adorable clutzy girl! (Thank goodness her youngest brother is just a toddler, because I still need some baby hugs now and then!)

I'd be just fine if my 12-year-old niece were 10 again, and if my 9-year-old niece were back at 6, LOL. They grow up so fast, and every physical reminder of it is both beautiful and a little scary to us. (Funny, though, how my sister cannot WAIT for her little boy to grow and get just a little more mature!)

I'm proud that you let her go, and I'm proud that you set your standards for the boy's behavior and that he met them. I hope it was a fabulous night for her, and that you survived it with flying colors!