To be horrified that I couldn't drive past a local primary school earlier as the road was blocked with stretch hummers

[PainteditRed]

For frickin year 6 leavers 'prom'.

Lots of kids dressed like bridesmaids and page boys, and what appeared to be pro photographers.

When I left juniors we had a disco in the school hall with panda pops and seabrooks crisps.

I have no problem with year 6 having a party or dressing up

but to spend ridiculous amounts on limos or clothes for it just seems ott to me

I quite like the year 11 prom though ,even my scruffy 16year old ds was prised out of his ripped jeans and band T.shirts for his

I don't hold with the "we never did this when I was young... we only had dry bread and water and someone's dad playing the trumpet"

Yes, we "just" had school discos but my parents would have gone through this either as evacuees or during post-war austerity. I am guessing they had no celebrations at all. My dad was forced to leave school at 15 and enter into an apprenticeship in a business he didn't really want to do.

No, the children shouldn't be dressed like late teens but I don't see the problem with calling a party a "prom" and wearing posh clothes. Limos? Meh. As I said, I know someone who has them so it wouldn't be an expensive option for me. If I had to pay full cost, no way.

Oh, right. You didn't mean "no contact" at all then.

But no, not the same as me. I've done my stint on the PTA raising money for extras that all the children enjoy. Every single parent on there was an ordinary person. Probably less likely to tart up their children than the ones on the sidelines bitching about the PTA and admiring their nails. IME, the parents who aren't willing to do the hard work are more likey to be the ones going OTT with appearances.

All PTAs are different.

i work ft.the pta crew are housewifes who dont work.they arent doing owt else all day anyway whilst the kids at school so keep em busy i suppose

year 6???? christ we had a party and that was it.

When i left year 11 in 2002 we didnt even have a prom then as the year group decided we would much prefer a trip out than a stupid prom, no one would dance, it would have been girls one side of the hall, boys the other. So school arranged a trip to Alton towers for our last ever school trip. Was fantastic :)

"Gone are the days of crappy end of year bashes that end in a bottle of white lightening and the possibilty of a snog by some spotty teen who hasn't discovered Lynx yet...."

But this is exactly the point Blurry they aren't spotty teens, they are 11. I don't expect my children to be drinking white lightening or snogging spotty teens at 11, and I don't see why they need fake tan or a limo.

lostinwales I am moving down to your neck of the woods as the limo craze is alive and kicking in Aber (unfortunately).

To be honest - I really feel for any families that just can't afford to play along.

It's DS2s prom year (year 11) this year & I can only thank god he isn't a girl.

Most of the girls in his year are going to be wearing dresses that cost in excess of a hundred pounds & I know of a couple of cases way beyond that. They're having hair extensions, nail extensions, spray tans, & professional make up.

Add all that to the price of the ticket (£25) and getting there and back - whether in a stretch limo or not.

Yes - the families have the option to opt out ( my own son is quite "meh" about the whole thing) but it's been the subject of the year for most of the girls and any of their friends not going would feel really left out.

Absolutely attention-seeking and ridiculous. Do children that young really have 'hard work' at school?

There really will be nothing left to 'celebrate' when they get older. It will all be spoilt and be done much too young. Hopefully there are enough parents with their heads screwed on that won't allow it to become precedent.

Will there eventually be a 'prom' for nursery er... graduates?

Beyond ridiculous..

Scottishmummy, I hope I never come across anyone as bitchily intolerant and judgemental as you in real life.

YANBU. Year 6 don't need proms what will they do in year 11?

exactly regarding the cost - awful amount of pressure for families who cannot afford this ridiculous trend, especially with the girls. It's all about money and it is completely crass, especially now it's starting at yr 6. My son 'graduated' from kindy to the proper infant school. They even had a graduation ceremony with gowns and mortar hats etc in a hall with a stage - it's ridiculous but at least it didn't cost anything and the school provided everything.