Let's see: $400 for the dress (a bit more than I paid for my wedding dress); about $50 for the shoes (Luckily Aunt Dolly paid for those); nails done at home with about $9 worth of product from the drug store; makeup applied by a friend; $70 for the ticket; transportation provided by a friend's mom in an elegant mini-van.
All of that for an hour and a half of picture-taking hoopla and five hours at the prom. Check my math, but I figure prom cost me about $80 per hour.
In addition to the price in dollars, there was an emotional toll at times. Searching for, depositing on, trying on and picking up THE DRESS took center stage not only in my daughter's life, but in our relationship as well.
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During the day, I would receive texts that included, "Did you call?" and "Is it in yet?" Finally, I told her to call and work out the details for herself when I realized prom didn't have to take center stage in my life, too, plus it would be an opportunity for her to learn some life skills.
Oh, and my parents drove out from Pittsburgh to see her get ready, and I played hostess to them for four days.
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So, was it all worth it? -- yeah.
There was something about seeing my little girl all dressed up like a Disney princess and enjoying herself in the company of her friends.
I knew by looking in their eyes that they had never felt more beautiful. I was there to see that and I'll remember that feeling forever.
What I saw in their eyes made all of the money, the work and the aggravation worth it.