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

[MissRaspberryRipples]

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

Not all. Boy mum here, and my son is going to prom, yet im sat here cringing. Oh hell no!

To be honest surely you would want your son to stand out in these photos and people comment on how dashing he looks as opposed to them looking and thinking why you are trying to steal his thunder. I just had jeans and a nice top on for my daughters pics. She looked stunning and I would never taken that away from her in photos or otherwise by dressing in such a fashion.

In that case, either he doesn’t yet know you have a matching outfit, or (I mean this kindly), you do indeed have an over-enmeshed relationship. That is not healthy going forward, so something to think about.

I’ve not read the full post. But you sound like you would wear a wedding dress to your son’s wedding.
by all means take lovely photos, but your partner is right, it’s not your night. It’s my son’s prom this year also and parents aren’t allowed past the dropping off area rightly so!

I understand the appeal and would have loved to do that sort of thing but my two oldest sons (now 20 and 18) would NOT have appreciated this at all. This is about the kids growing up and moving away from their parents, much though it rips mommy hearts to shreds. But ass one comment said, your son might like the idea- could you ask him? Would he speak honestly or maybe say its a good idea to not hurt your feelings? Sometimes tricky to know! Good luck!

In this situation the obvious answer is to go with whatever your son thinks - it’s his prom.

Wow. Just no.

His suit is amazing! He's going to look really cool. Good for him for not following the crowd.
I think some posters are being mean about him not being into girls, etc. He can fancy girls but not really be into them just yet. And that's fine; he's 16.
I'm torn on the purple clad pics at home. It's a bit try-hard but as it affects no one else in the world, you should both do whatever makes you happy.

I hope he has a great prom.

Boy moms 👀

Would you have liked your mum to have done the same to you?

You sound like one of those mums who'd turn up to her son's wedding in either a full white gown or a black dress complete with funeral hat and veil.

You sound like you have main character syndrome.
my ex wife tried something similar and it backfired and she looked ridiculous.

ICK

He's finishing high school he's 16 he isn't having a graduation we're in the UK. They're for university here mostly. He's finishing high school exams and has a leavers assembly with his friends on their last day then they have their prom in a few weeks. It is genuine yet I probably shouldn't have rushed to post with Mumsnets auto generated title

If you're both happy with it then fine but it seems odd to dress up for something you're not even going to. I never even thought about taking photos with my sons before their proms, just pictures of them because they were the ones going. Graduations are a different story.

Oh OP, please don't do this, it's so cringy.
You're his mum, not his date, and matching outfits with your son "for a nice photo" will just look weird.

For one I didn't have a prom they didn't do them at my school when I was leaving, and to be honest I'd have liked a mum to be present and proud of her child at all

Missing the point of the thread but I love purple and would love a purple dress - though not these ones Mumsnet automatically populated the thread with 🤭 - see attached photo

Personally I wouldn't OP, and your son might not like to say "that's a bit much mum". I know mine wouldn't have wanted to upset me. As for the posters being so fucking nasty about a teenage boy's suit, I think it's great and they should be ashamed of themselves.

I think it’s a bit weird yes but so what if he’s not bothered why shouldnt you do it? However entirely missing the point of your thread I love the steampunk purple jacket! It’s up our street I have one child with blue and black hair and one with <currently> pink hair while my own is currently bright purple!

You go to prom with your son?

I love that you have asked because … NO just NO it’s giving MIL from hell vibes. Like the videos where the mum ruins the gender reveal or like the beckhams where Victoria danced provocatively with her son at the wedding. I get what u were going for, but all pics I see of proms, everyone else but the prom goer are dressed normally. You’re not going to the event so therefore you don’t dress up. Fair enough have nice clothes and hair and makeup for some nice pics, but not dress like your going to the prom.

I think it's fine!

He'll probably have to change to something more breathable for Quidditch though.

(re the photo, I think it's insane to wear a special outfit purely for one photo, especially when that photo is celebrating an event for someone else. Candid, natural photos of people as they are, not trying to perform or dress-up for the camera are a million times better than awkward, 'trying to look our best 1980s wedding photo' pictures)

YABU - it’s his night, not yours. You are making it about you.

We’re not!

Here in the uk, schools often give the kids a prom after leaving year 11. Its only for the kids usually (never heard of others being invited that do not attend that school or arent in year 11). Parents dont go. Its one last kick for the kids to say goodbye to each other etc. Its a celebration that effectively is a leavers party. Hope that makes sense.