What We Do For Our Kids

1. Listen to their last-minute confessions at 10 p.m. the night before their 6-day music department trip.

Son: Ah, I asked someone to prom today.
Mom: What? You're leaving at 6 a.m. tomorrow for New Orleans. When are you going to get measured for a tuxedo? Prom is in two weeks.
Son: Here. (Whips his iPod to a page on "How to Take Tux Measurements.")

2. Pull out a tape measure and take tuxedo measurements until 10:30 p.m. Pack tape measure in Son's luggage - just in case. Call the local florist/tux rental center with the measurements the next day.  Email son to pull out that tape measure and redo the arm-length mearsurement from the middle-of-the-back of the neck, over the shoulder, around the elbow to one-inch below the wrist.

3. Pick up his date on the next Saturday morning and drive to pick out tuxedo colors to go with her dress.

4. Encourage his date to let him "surprise" her with flowers rather than have her get her own corsage.

Someone needs to teach these kids about ancient-dating traditions!

5. Wonder "Why?" when Son comes home and nixes the idea of visiting the florist and instead says, "Can WE make one like WE did last year?"

Translation: WE = you, Mom

6. Spend hours shopping for the "perfect" corsage supplies. Let Son choose the flowers. Then Mom makes both the wrist corsage and boutineer.

7. Take neck-tie to fabric store. Find a matching color. Sew a pocket square. Why?

Son: Did you order a pocket square?
Mom: No. I never thought of it. You want one?
Son:Yeah!

8. Smile when Son announces this year he'll bring his date home for pre-prom pictures.

Put Dad, Son and brothers to work on yard-cleanup

when Son announces his buddy and date are coming later.

Raise eyebrows when Son announces

buddy's mom and sister are on their way.

Gasp - ever so silently - when buddy's date's mom and a third couple show up too.

Mom: (Our place is a mess!)

9. Take Son and his date for pictures on a hilltop road ABOVE the woods when Son suggests a pose ON the wooded trail after a fresh rain.

10. Breathe at the photo finish.