I have been having a tough time meeting my daughter’s new middle school friends and their parents. So it seemed like the smart thing to do to volunteer to chaperone my daughter’s first Valentine’s Day dance. Seemed like a win-win situation, the PTA needs help and I get to meet some of her friends.
When I told my daughter that I was chaperoning the school dance, she, of course, was horrified and immediately told me the following instructions on how to interact with her at the dance:
“Don’t make eye contact”
“Don’t take my picture”
“Don’t embarrass me”
“Don’t notice me.”
Hah!! I was there to check out her friends and followed her around to get some group photos. I literally had to chase her several times to have her introduce me to her friends and get some photos.
Was it embarrassing? Who cares. I can put some names to faces and she has an anecdote to tell when she is older about “how my mom embarrassed me at my first Valentine’s Day dance.”
P.S. I did not really connnect with any of the moms from her class, they all seemed to be parents of older kids.
Will I volunteer again? You betcha.
Would love to hear how you stay connected to your middle school child’s friends and parents?
Okay Linda..I had to laugh reading this. First of all I just still cannot believe that your daughter is IN middle school. Now is definitely the time to chaperone and be a part of the dances, etc. High school will be here in three minutes and they don’t include the parents as much…or at all in some social situations. BUT, like me, I’m sure you will be a part of middle school, high school, and even college. I always knew all of Louie’s roommates at Fordham. Of course with boys you just have to show up with FOOD and they let you right in and have you sit down!! lol. Girls, as with Emily, I am seeing can be much trickier!! Good Job, Momma!
I cant believe she is middle school either. And you are right high school is another 2 years away. Scarry!!
I went to my kids Valentine’s Dances and I can’t for the life of me figure out why my grandson doesn’t want me to go with him tonight. What could his mom have said to him to make him refuse my presence? 😉
I had fun, I don’t know why they didn’t. Lol…
Ahhh!
hahaha dont notice me.. thats everywhere we go with the teenagers.. they dont want to be embarrassed by you.. its crazy how times have not changed.. lol
please that is definitely becoming the norm. Dont notice them anywhere.
My mom never really participated in things for school like that. She should be appreciative!
Appreciative might not be the word but I am sure it will be one of those things she will happy about when she is in college.
What a great way to get involved. Sound like a lot of fun!
it was fun.
I love this, I would love to do this. My son won’t even let me go on his class trip with him though! Sounds fun!
Class trips I will not do anymore. I think its because in pre-school I went on every one they had.
Haha…very cute! This will definitely be me when my kids are teenagers!
Don’t remind about the teenage years. Chaperoning might NOT really go over well.
Chaperoning a dance is a rite of passage for parents! I hope you get to do it more than just once.
I am planning to do as much as I can.
hhhhhhh these àre i think instructions i am gonna give to my children too.
I love it!
I would have loved to chaperone a dance – but….my son would never have gone – from 6-9th grades Lance was in a (small group) boys private home study – but I never thought to meet the parents – duh…
I am happy I decided to chaperone. I dont know how many times I can do it but we shall see.
When my kids were younger we were always the house everyone hung out at. I liked being able to see who my kids were hanging out with and what they were doing.
My kids are young so no middle school dances yet but when the time comes, I will totally be chaperoning. I’m the kind of parent who stays off to the side and will watch from afar.
ahhhhhh my daughters going to be like this, I can already tell… I think I’m a cool mom but she doesn’t see me the same way 😉
I’ve chaperoned middle school too. The kids (grown now) laugh about days like that, but you can tell they’re glad (now) that I was involved. 🙂
I’m sure I will volunteer too at my daughters school when she gets that age. Don’t find anything wrong with that.
For some reason they don’t have dances until high school. Your daughter sounds like mine lol with the don’t embarras me.
Haha cute. lol. No kids yet here but it does makes me want to think of that kind of future hahaa! Happy Vday!
My daughter is only in Second grade but I’m almost positive I will volunteer just to spy on her haha 😉
Don’t make eye contact and don’t notice me. Lines said by every teen to their parents. This is a great post to remind me of when my own daughters were growing up.
Oh man, I am embarrassed thinking of my middle school days reading this article! I remember our first school dance and it was just so cheesy!
I think it’s always fun when a child has their first school dance. I remember mine and being absolutely bored.
I was a consummate volunteer for both of my daughters’ classes. Dances, field trips, Girl Scout troops, you name it – I did it. It may have embarrassed them at first, but they soon got used to it. Now, as adults, they really appreciate that I did it.
I was involved in the PTSA when my kids were in school, so they were used to seeing me at events. I’m not sure they would have liked me following them around though. Haha! 🙂
I was on the PTA until my son graduated high school and went to many dances! Now, my son is an adult and we have some amazing stories to tell, when we are together. Keep up the great job! I’m also a NY mom and I can’t wait to meet you one day!
I am so glad you volunteered. I think it’s important to be involved with our kids this way and to show them the importance of doing so. Good job mama!
My son is still in 6th grade and they will have their dance this coming Friday. I think my son will be embarrassed if I’ll go so I’m not. He’s going to share the happenings for sure.
LOL This is funny! 🙂
This is so sweet! I’m currently looking for a school to send my daughter to (she’ll be going into Kindergarten next year), and I’m already concerned about finding a school where I feel like the parents and students have a tight community. outside of school. I think chaperoning is a good start!