Saturday was a busy day in the AuburnChick household…so busy that we didn’t let a series of downpours stop us from what we needed to accomplish.
Chicky and I slept in, a rare thing, and got up raring to go. We were on a mission…
To find a prom dress.
These are words that can strike fear in the heart of any teen’s mom.
Chicky invited a friend to tag along. This is one of the twins who came to visit her every day after her knee surgery. A good friend.
We visited Dillards first. Chicky approached the dresses hesitantly. She’s a soccer player, used to wearing shorts and knee-high socks. Dressing up is not her thing.
After a few “no’s” to dresses we pointed out, we finally told her she was trying on dresses, even if she didn’t think she would like them. The point was to start narrowing down the styles and colors she preferred.
Thank goodness her friend was there with us. It’s been a long time since I looked at fancy dresses, and some of those straps were like puzzle pieces…fitting around her shoulders in unique ways.
Chicky tried on quite a few dresses, but nothing really grabbed her interest. We did figure out that blue and silver are good colors for her. Guy Friend, who will be her date, prefers purple…for selfish reasons. It’s his favorite color. It didn’t look the best on her, though.
After leaving Dillards, we visited the only other “real” gown store in town…the one that “all” the girls go to. Chicky’s good friend was there working, which was nice because she knows Chicky’s tastes.
This store was a dream to shop in…every dress covered by a clear bag to protect it. Gowns were organized by price, size, and color. For an organized person like me, this was awesome! I cannot stand rifling through clothes to find the right size. Ugh.
Chicky tried on a few more dresses…and then she found THE one. It surprised her because she fought trying it on…not being very interested in it while it was on the hanger.
Boy, did she change her mind.
Although the dress is a bit too big at the top, and it’s also a bit too long, we could tell that this dress was perfect for her.
We looked for a price tag…the dreaded part of the entire trip…and sighed. Even with the $100 discount tag, it was way beyond what we could afford.
We walked out, resigned.
We took Chicky’s friend home. She offered to let her borrow a dress, but Chicky’s heart wasn’t into it any more.
An idea came to my mind in that moment.
Grandparents!
I suggested that Chicky call them and ask if they could help her out.
You could see her mind turning. Hmmm…
Before she called, she told me she was concerned about seeming greedy. Now, Chicky may be rude and unappreciative of what we do for her, but she never, ever asks her grandparents for things. She understands the value of money.
I walked into another room to give her privacy, and she made the call. The grandparents answered her call for help with the generosity they have always showered on members of our family.
Chicky came into the room with a huge smile on her face. She was ready to go back to the store.
We went back, as fast as the speed limit and weather would allow…Chicky was nervous the entire way. “What if someone else bought the dress while we were gone,” she asked.
“Then that wasn’t the dress God intended you to have,” I told her.
The dress was still there though, and it went home with us after I gulped and payed. A check is on the way from the grandparents, so I’m not overly concerned. But still…
As Chicky and I walked out of the store, she whispered to me, “This must be what it feels like to be rich.”
I had to laugh.
Oh gosh…you probably want to see pictures of this dress, don’t you? Ok…here they are…
The front
A close-up of the top
The back
Close-up of the back
I know that the top looks a bit revealing, but after it’s altered, it will hug her slender body…a body that doesn’t boast cleavage, thank goodness.
I’m so thrilled that we had a wonderful day of shopping…no fighting (amazing, eh?)…just a regular day out with my daughter.
Filed under: children | Tagged: dress, prom, shopping, teenagers | 1 Comment »
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