Why is Homecoming such a Big Deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why it's something you should value:

It's a way for kids to "lean in" when it comes to school and social life, as opposed to being a community outsider or cynic. Do you want to be a part of the community or someone who is too aloof and snotty to participate? It's something ecumenical that the band kids, the theatre kids, the football players, and others can all be a part of. What's so bad about that?

Separately, today's HS kids missed out on so much socializing because of COVID and have a ton of catching up to do in order to get to their normal social developmental stage. These are the times when they learn to ask someone out, to organize their friends into a group, to celebrate as a group, to belong. It's much lower stakes than prom, so think of it as a practice opportunity. As a parent of a college student, I encourage all HS parents to support their kids learning how to do all of this safely and at least somewhat soberly so that they don't arrive at college in a year or two and lose it when faced with the need to do this on their own. The vomiting, passing out, hooking up, and what not is out of control, above and beyond the normal freshman year of college stupidity, and I'd guess it has to do with COVID.

LOL, it's usually the opposite. All the popular kids go, and the nerdy kids who are outsiders don't.

No one said it's "bad", just why is it such a huge deal.

were you one of those who made it a huge deal?

HS is not a huge deal. We need to stop encouraging kids to make every social thing in HS such a huge deal. My kids are going, but it's not a huge deal to them.

I laughed out loud at the PP's "Do you want to be a part of the community or someone who is too aloof and snotty to participate?" Please! Some kids don't go for various reasons. I bet you were one of the girls in HS who questioned kids who didn't go to inconsequential dances as missing a monumental moment in their childhood. Have some perspective.

I thought this was hilarious, too, especially the implication that going to Homecoming is the only way to be part of the community. I'm glad people enjoyed Homecoming, but it wasn't my thing. I loved dance and art, and spent a lot of time at my dance classes. My "community" at school were the art and theater people. I enjoyed creating sets and making costumes for plays. You can be part of the "community" at school in many different ways, and make memories in different ways.

So you were a geek and the dances were a no go for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hoco aound here is super weird to me.

I grew up in NY and homecoming was all about school spirit. We kicked it off with a pep rally. Each grade created a huge float and we had a parade through town. Football games were well attended by sober students who wanted to cheer on the team more than yell at freshman who are sitting in the "wrong spot". The dance was that evening and people dresses cute, but none of this mini-prom stuff that goes on here. People didn't go out to the country club or rent a party bus. Seeing groups of girls and boys with their dates all lined up is so different.

I liked my smaller hometown homecoming a lot more.

We did a huge pep rally too. Spirit days all week with each grade competing against each other. The game brought back a lot of former students and players. The dance was very basic. No couples. No prom type dresses. Just a dance with a DJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's funny to me when posters opine to say "this is new" or "this is because of social media" in such a definitive way. Like, their experience defines all experiences.

HoCo was pretty big when I was in HS in the 90's. It doesn't appear to be a bigger deal now than it was then. It doesn't appear to be lesser deal either. I think it depends on where you grew up.

Yeah, I totally agree with this PP. I graduated from HS in the early 90s and went to school in the DC suburbs. Homecoming was definitely a big deal and everyone I knew went--either with dates or with friends. Yes, people post about it on social media now, but it's not like that's suddenly made it a big deal around here. In many parts of the DC region it always has been a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why it's something you should value:

It's a way for kids to "lean in" when it comes to school and social life, as opposed to being a community outsider or cynic. Do you want to be a part of the community or someone who is too aloof and snotty to participate? It's something ecumenical that the band kids, the theatre kids, the football players, and others can all be a part of. What's so bad about that?

Separately, today's HS kids missed out on so much socializing because of COVID and have a ton of catching up to do in order to get to their normal social developmental stage. These are the times when they learn to ask someone out, to organize their friends into a group, to celebrate as a group, to belong. It's much lower stakes than prom, so think of it as a practice opportunity. As a parent of a college student, I encourage all HS parents to support their kids learning how to do all of this safely and at least somewhat soberly so that they don't arrive at college in a year or two and lose it when faced with the need to do this on their own. The vomiting, passing out, hooking up, and what not is out of control, above and beyond the normal freshman year of college stupidity, and I'd guess it has to do with COVID.

LOL, it's usually the opposite. All the popular kids go, and the nerdy kids who are outsiders don't.

No one said it's "bad", just why is it such a huge deal.

were you one of those who made it a huge deal?

HS is not a huge deal. We need to stop encouraging kids to make every social thing in HS such a huge deal. My kids are going, but it's not a huge deal to them.

I laughed out loud at the PP's "Do you want to be a part of the community or someone who is too aloof and snotty to participate?" Please! Some kids don't go for various reasons. I bet you were one of the girls in HS who questioned kids who didn't go to inconsequential dances as missing a monumental moment in their childhood. Have some perspective.

I thought this was hilarious, too, especially the implication that going to Homecoming is the only way to be part of the community. I'm glad people enjoyed Homecoming, but it wasn't my thing. I loved dance and art, and spent a lot of time at my dance classes. My "community" at school were the art and theater people. I enjoyed creating sets and making costumes for plays. You can be part of the "community" at school in many different ways, and make memories in different ways.

So you were a geek and the dances were a no go for you.

Not the poster you responded to, but you're really the reason with why some people think making a big deal out of homecoming is stupid.

Also, nothing wrong with being geeks. You want people to start stereotyping jocks as dumb?

[Anonymous]

Meh, it wasn't that big of a deal to me. I'm sure it was fun, but I remember the dress I wore more than I do the night of the dance itself. Not everyone is that into it and that's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea of a hoco prom-posal, renting a party bus and skipping the dance entirely is so foreign to me. What even is the point?

Our neighbor rented the longest limo I have ever seen. Big enough to fit then entire cheerleading squad.

Yikes. Those are so unsafe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The girls are often more interested in the homecoming dance. A chance to dress up. The boy’s consider a sport coat to be painful 😬

Overall generalized sexist remark

but generally true overall.

This is exactly my kids - DS and DD teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's funny to me when posters opine to say "this is new" or "this is because of social media" in such a definitive way. Like, their experience defines all experiences.

HoCo was pretty big when I was in HS in the 90's. It doesn't appear to be a bigger deal now than it was then. It doesn't appear to be lesser deal either. I think it depends on where you grew up.

Yeah, I totally agree with this PP. I graduated from HS in the early 90s and went to school in the DC suburbs. Homecoming was definitely a big deal and everyone I knew went--either with dates or with friends. Yes, people post about it on social media now, but it's not like that's suddenly made it a big deal around here. In many parts of the DC region it always has been a big deal.

I graduated from Fairfax County HS in 1988 and HC was a big deal then. Pep rally. Homecoming court nominations. Crowning at half time.

[Anonymous]

My kids were big into HoCo in 9th and 10th grades. By 11th they didn't care about any part of it, and by 12th they were over any part of it except for spirit week and the class float for the parade.

I don't think any went to the dance when they were juniors but all went as seniors.

[Anonymous]

My nephew with ASD is going to the homecoming game and is excited about watching his nerdy brother who plays trombone in the marching band be part of the homecoming court that escorts alumni from each class across the field. The whole point of it is that it's for everybody from that school, not just the popular kids. At my high school, the art kids made gorgeous paintings on huge pieces of paper that the football team would run through when they took the field. It was great fun. Our sad football team never won, but our art and band (the nerds) were always spectacular.

"I loved dance and art, and spent a lot of time at my dance classes. My "community" at school were the art and theater people. I enjoyed creating sets and making costumes for plays. You can be part of the "community" at school in many different ways, and make memories in different ways."

[Anonymous]

I agree that it's overkill to rent a limo or spend hundreds of dollars for a gown on homecoming. I've not seen any place in the country where the dance requires a gown. All the girls I see on social media are wearing a short dress and Chucks. But why all the dour and fuddy duddy "I'm too cool for school" stuff? Do you also chastise people for putting out pumpkins that will just end up in a landfill or hanging lights in December that waste electricity? Jeez, people. Just lighten up a bit and take the chance to have some fun now and then. Life's too short.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in central VA and homecoming was a big deal 30 years ago. The game, the dance, and an actual parade thru the neighborhood around the school! If you were a prince or princess you rode on an open convertible and the band marched. It was awesome. Making a big deal about homecoming is not a new thing at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in the age of social media. Homecoming is now an attempt to show how “hot” you are (or your kids are) to your neighbors, coworkers, and distant relatives. It’s like a weird contest of who gets the most likes.

I’ve seen post after post of girls dressed in dresses up to their butts, and boys who look like they would rather be anywhere else. [/quote

Agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends what part of the country you live in. I grew up in nY, and don’t even think we had homecoming. Spirit week was just for seniors.

No, it's a new thing, not regional. Homecoming was not a big deal at my school 30 years ago, but it is for my HS daughters who are attending the same school I did. I blame social media. Anything that could be a good photo op is now popular.

It was a thing 30 years ago, it just wasn’t your thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why it's something you should value:

It's a way for kids to "lean in" when it comes to school and social life, as opposed to being a community outsider or cynic. Do you want to be a part of the community or someone who is too aloof and snotty to participate? It's something ecumenical that the band kids, the theatre kids, the football players, and others can all be a part of. What's so bad about that?

Separately, today's HS kids missed out on so much socializing because of COVID and have a ton of catching up to do in order to get to their normal social developmental stage. These are the times when they learn to ask someone out, to organize their friends into a group, to celebrate as a group, to belong. It's much lower stakes than prom, so think of it as a practice opportunity. As a parent of a college student, I encourage all HS parents to support their kids learning how to do all of this safely and at least somewhat soberly so that they don't arrive at college in a year or two and lose it when faced with the need to do this on their own. The vomiting, passing out, hooking up, and what not is out of control, above and beyond the normal freshman year of college stupidity, and I'd guess it has to do with COVID.

LOL, it's usually the opposite. All the popular kids go, and the nerdy kids who are outsiders don't.

No one said it's "bad", just why is it such a huge deal.

were you one of those who made it a huge deal?

HS is not a huge deal. We need to stop encouraging kids to make every social thing in HS such a huge deal. My kids are going, but it's not a huge deal to them.

I laughed out loud at the PP's "Do you want to be a part of the community or someone who is too aloof and snotty to participate?" Please! Some kids don't go for various reasons. I bet you were one of the girls in HS who questioned kids who didn't go to inconsequential dances as missing a monumental moment in their childhood. Have some perspective.

I thought this was hilarious, too, especially the implication that going to Homecoming is the only way to be part of the community. I'm glad people enjoyed Homecoming, but it wasn't my thing. I loved dance and art, and spent a lot of time at my dance classes. My "community" at school were the art and theater people. I enjoyed creating sets and making costumes for plays. You can be part of the "community" at school in many different ways, and make memories in different ways.

So you were a geek and the dances were a no go for you.

DP. As someone who went to homecoming and was popular in high school, it appears as if you peaked in HS, coming on DCUM to call someone a geek? Sad.Pathetic.