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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to dress up to match my son for his prom?

920 replies

MissRaspberryRipples · 13/06/2026 14:39

Hi there. My son has his high school prom coming up next month as he's 16 and doing his GCSEs at the moment. He's chosen his outfit choices and I've purchased both suits that he liked so he has a choice. He's gone for purple suits which are lovely. I've also purchased myself a lovely purple dress and some nice shoes so that he can have some lovely mum and son photos taken on his special night. I showed them to my partner and all he has said is that they're nice and will look great but why am I making such an effort when it's not even my night? He says it's silly and isn't necessary. He thinks I'm overdoing it on the effort for a night that isn't for me. Is it really unreasonable to want to make the effort or is he just being unnecessarily mean

OP posts:
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titchy · 13/06/2026 15:13

All the photos I have of my dc’s proms are of them, and them and their friends. I don’t understand why you’d want to be in the photo at all. Confused

user1476613140 · 13/06/2026 15:13

Just dinne!

Papster · 13/06/2026 15:13

Are you familiar with the website Embarrassing Family Photos?
You will be

Gladystheimpaler · 13/06/2026 15:13

OP I would return the dress and shoes, and return one of his suits, and spend that money on something lovely for DS and mates. Ask him what would really make his prom special, and do that as an extra gift. It will truly mean more to him, and make a lovelier memory, than this matching outfit plan.

UnbeatenMum · 13/06/2026 15:12

We took photos with our DD, I think most parents do. Some seemed to dress up for it, some didn't. I think buying a matching outfit especially for the occasion is a bit unusual though.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 13/06/2026 15:12

It's natural to want photos of your son in his smart suit, OP, and fair enough if you want a picture of you and him together.

But I'm afraid it's OTT to buy a matching dress for the occasion.

This is your son's special night. It is about him and his friends. Please don't try to make it all about you.

StrictlyCoffee · 13/06/2026 15:12

Are you Anne from Amandaland?

Extremely weird and borderline creepy. For your son’s sake, don’t do this.

DameOfThrones · 13/06/2026 15:12

Team partner here.

It's going to look weird, like a creepy wedding photo or something.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/06/2026 15:12

Substance · 13/06/2026 15:12

Are you Lucille Bluth and is your son named Buster by any chance?

Omg cross post! 😄

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/06/2026 15:12

You are being so unreasonable sorry 😭

Youre his mum, not his girlfriend!

arrested development buster bluth GIF
Substance · 13/06/2026 15:12

Are you Lucille Bluth and is your son named Buster by any chance?

DrFaustina · 13/06/2026 15:11

What are you wearing to the after party?

101Alsatians · 13/06/2026 15:11

Nooo it's wildly inappropriate.

YouputthetwatinKathleen · 13/06/2026 15:10

This is very Amandaland.

RaraRachael · 13/06/2026 15:10

murasaki · 13/06/2026 14:42

Agree, you'd look like you want to be his date. Don't do it. Naff beyond all measure.

This 100 %

ChickenBananaBanana · 13/06/2026 15:10

Creepy with a capital C.

DrFaustina · 13/06/2026 15:09

Jesus christ.

My ds is a pfb, but there's no chance. I'll be dropping him off at school and being as unobtrusive as possible.

I go to yr 11 prom every year and dress nicely, because they like to see you make an effort for them, and you're there all evening, but my own son's prom? No!

ScaredButUnavoidable · 13/06/2026 15:09

Oh God OP, please don’t do this! This is so creepy!!

Are you trying to look like his date?!

Your son will be dying inside even if he’s too polite to tell you!

Reptilesthatiswhattheyare · 13/06/2026 15:09

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MSDOUBTFIRE · 13/06/2026 15:09

Weird !!!!!

maddiemookins16mum · 13/06/2026 15:09

crackofdoom · 13/06/2026 15:00

I think I might suggest I do this to my 16 year old, just to see his reaction 😆

Let us know his level of horror when you do.

Papster · 13/06/2026 15:09

MissRaspberryRipples · 13/06/2026 14:39

Hi there. My son has his high school prom coming up next month as he's 16 and doing his GCSEs at the moment. He's chosen his outfit choices and I've purchased both suits that he liked so he has a choice. He's gone for purple suits which are lovely. I've also purchased myself a lovely purple dress and some nice shoes so that he can have some lovely mum and son photos taken on his special night. I showed them to my partner and all he has said is that they're nice and will look great but why am I making such an effort when it's not even my night? He says it's silly and isn't necessary. He thinks I'm overdoing it on the effort for a night that isn't for me. Is it really unreasonable to want to make the effort or is he just being unnecessarily mean

Are you Liz Hurley?

lurchersforever · 13/06/2026 15:09

MissRaspberryRipples · 13/06/2026 15:04

So out of the whole post you decided it was appropriate to correct the grammar? Although purchased and bought are pretty much the same meaning

No, I also told you not to wear the dress and shoes for the photo. It's not a grammatical point either - I just hate the use of formal, Latinate terms where they don't belong, especially twice in close proximity to each other.

Diamondsareforever72 · 13/06/2026 15:08

Placemarking 🤣

Reptilesthatiswhattheyare · 13/06/2026 15:07

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.