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Remember high school prom?

Hailey & Manistee

For the past several weeks, my 16-year old daughter, Hailey, has been preparing for Prom. This may sound like a perfectly natural sentence to most, but to anyone that knows Hailey, Ms. Never-wears-dresses-Hates-shopping-&-Just-wants-to-ride-her-horse, she’s pretty much a tom-boy through-and-through.  As her mom, one would think that I would be excited about the flurry of shopping that this type of event calls for, however, for those of you who know me well, unless it’s shopping for camera gear, I’m not especially giddy about hitting the malls for hours of dress & shoe shopping.   Enter stage right: Aunt Erica.  Hailey’s Aunt, otherwise known as Auntie Erica, is the Queen Bee of shopping – in fact, she’s Queen Bee of ALL things girly.  I’ve known Erica for a long time, so she’s well aware of my genetic shortcoming when it comes to shopping, nails, hair, & makeup.  Now, don’t get me wrong, shooting weddings has definitely helped me understand, and even be conversant with, most things girly, but I know that Erica knows that we still needed intervention.  Moving at the speed one would use when a new checkout lane opens at the grocery store, she jumped in and began handling everything – from negotiating Hailey’s slightly-over-our-budget dream dress down to an I-can-handle-that price range, to setting up and taking her to her hair appointment, to getting her dress altered with her, to getting her nails done, to picking out various jewelry options, to coming over the day of prom to apply make-up to Hailey and her two girlfriends.  

For the record, I did take Hailey shoe shopping.  Much to Hailey’s delight (note sarcasm), I broke down and started crying back by the sale racks in DSW.  Do you want to know why?  Because it’s finally dawning on me that we’re picking out 4 inch heels for my beautiful baby girl and I found myself completely unprepared for this parenting milestone.  Do you remember the movie Father of the Bride?  When Steve Martin’s daughter announces to the family at dinner that she’s going to be married and he instantly pictures her as a little 7-year-old girl with pig-tails saying, in her 7-year-old voice, “Daddy, I’m getting married!”  Well, that was “my moment” at DSW. How did my baby girl grow up into this beautiful graceful young woman so quickly?  And for the love of God – if this is just prom – how on earth will I handle her wedding?! (in 10-15 years, of course)   

She had an amazing time at prom.  So glad she went.   

  

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  • linda - May 3, 2010 - 3:00 pm

    With or without having the “girly” trait – you are an awesome mom who is much loved.ReplyCancel

    • jennbates - May 5, 2010 - 11:45 am

      Aww, love you mom.

  • Auntie Erica - May 3, 2010 - 7:16 pm

    Thank you so much for allowing me to take the girly roll, you know how much I love it! I was so happy to be a part of something so special to Hailey and everyone, thanks for the recognition and blog! I can’t wait to do it again! That is with your permission of course. Regardless of anything no one would be able to marvel at Hailey’s beauty without the best photographer around!
    It was such a fun time and I loved every minute of it! Regan has already notified me that she better receive the same treatment, so get ready you have another milestone coming and I will be happy to be the girly girl for Ray as well! You handled it like a true loving mother!

    XOXO,
    EricaReplyCancel

    • jennbates - May 5, 2010 - 11:46 am

      Yes, Regan will be a completely different story, won’t she?! She’s already tried on a few prom dresses! lol xo

  • Janet Kapa - May 10, 2010 - 7:10 pm

    your work is just amazing. love these prom pics!ReplyCancel

    • jennbates - May 11, 2010 - 8:04 pm

      Thank you Janet!