Prom Decliners

[Anonymous]

Are your kids not interested in going to prom?

The last two years all anyone could talk about was how sad it was that kids were missing out on these rites of passage because it was too dangerous to let them gather. Yet this year, I've heard of lots of friends' teens who aren't going to prom. What's this about?

I'm wondering how much this might be a result of stunted development caused by quarantining? Did this year's Juniors and Seniors miss out on learning how to interact with their peer groups? Did social networks fail to form, and so there isn't the normal desire to gather together with your classmates to celebrate? And do the post-covid kids never learn how to go on a date, much less how to ask someone out?

[Anonymous]

A lot of them don’t want to deal with the absurdity that is “promposal” these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of them don’t want to deal with the absurdity that is “promposal” these days.

I certainly wouldn’t blame anyone for the above. Its absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of them don’t want to deal with the absurdity that is “promposal” these days.

+1 Having to make a public, and potentially crushing and embarrassing, display is too far for many teens. The last thing a teen needs is a TikTok of them getting humiliated at school.

[Anonymous]

What? Teens not interested in getting to 2nd or 3rd base?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are your kids not interested in going to prom?

The last two years all anyone could talk about was how sad it was that kids were missing out on these rites of passage because it was too dangerous to let them gather. Yet this year, I've heard of lots of friends' teens who aren't going to prom. What's this about?

I'm wondering how much this might be a result of stunted development caused by quarantining? Did this year's Juniors and Seniors miss out on learning how to interact with their peer groups? Did social networks fail to form, and so there isn't the normal desire to gather together with your classmates to celebrate? And do the post-covid kids never learn how to go on a date, much less how to ask someone out?

Your conclusion is a bit dramatic, I know plenty of people who didn't care to go to the prom...We're all in our 40s now.

[Anonymous]

I didn't want to to go to my prom. I had terrible social anxiety at that age. Now in my 40s, I have good friends, but I still don't like large parties. Much prefer quiet dinners with good conversations.

[Anonymous]

The whole "proposal" business has now become loaded, and prom was overblown pre Covid; sometimes it costs an enormous amount of money, and there are many expectations for the night that many kids may want to skip (like having sex with their date.)

Prom was loaded before the pandemic and now that kids have had a chance to skip it, they don't want to go back.

[Anonymous]

Or maybe many finally feel that they can decline something they never wanted in the first place.

[Anonymous]

My DD turned down an invite from a boy at an all boys school. She has just come to hate these dances. It’s really all about the pictures, no one has fun at the actual event because there’s too many rules so they leave early, change into sweats and get drunk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are your kids not interested in going to prom?

The last two years all anyone could talk about was how sad it was that kids were missing out on these rites of passage because it was too dangerous to let them gather. Yet this year, I've heard of lots of friends' teens who aren't going to prom. What's this about?

I'm wondering how much this might be a result of stunted development caused by quarantining? Did this year's Juniors and Seniors miss out on learning how to interact with their peer groups? Did social networks fail to form, and so there isn't the normal desire to gather together with your classmates to celebrate? And do the post-covid kids never learn how to go on a date, much less how to ask someone out?

Yay!!!! Hated prom.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. Our prom was last weekend. School sold 1000 tickets and it sold out the week before. It seemed like an equal amount with dates vs. friend groups. My kid went with friends and had an awesome time.

[Anonymous]

I had a great time going to a party with my friends at a farm, instead of prom, and didn't miss it a bit.

It's got to be even worse now, with the over-the-top "proposals."

Since it's mainly about getting baked and getting laid, it just made sense to hang with my friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are your kids not interested in going to prom?

The last two years all anyone could talk about was how sad it was that kids were missing out on these rites of passage because it was too dangerous to let them gather. Yet this year, I've heard of lots of friends' teens who aren't going to prom. What's this about?

I'm wondering how much this might be a result of stunted development caused by quarantining? Did this year's Juniors and Seniors miss out on learning how to interact with their peer groups? Did social networks fail to form, and so there isn't the normal desire to gather together with your classmates to celebrate? And do the post-covid kids never learn how to go on a date, much less how to ask someone out?

Wow, OP you are really over thinking this! LOL.

Just ask your kid why he/she is not interested on going!

[Anonymous]

My son is a junior and he’s not interested in attending his prom. He went to Homecoming freshman year and said he wasn’t attending another school dance until his senior prom because he disliked it so much.