Though we all know this website is meant for teen girls, I've got a confession to make: not only do I  have a teenaged daughter but two young sons, as well. One of them will enter teendom in less than a year and, frankly, I’m a little anxious.

Being a teenaged guy can be pretty tough -- even tougher during certain parts of the year. Need a clue? Homecoming. Another? Prom. Yes, I’m talking about ohmygodIhavetoaskagirltothedance season. For a guy it can be pretty painful.

Did you know that incidences of male stuttering increase 450% during the ‘asking a girl out’ process? That circumference of under-arm sweat circles goes up 600%? My guess is you didn’t because those figures aren’t true. Still, asking a girl out isn’t easy, which is why I’m particularly disturbed by a certain trend I’ll call The Big Ask.
Picture
Don't make me feel like a zero...
Not all of you may know about this, as it may not have spread to all four corners of the world yet, but in good ‘ole Iowa it’s been going on for years. Guys don’t simply ask a girl to a dance anymore.  They go big, or stay home.

Here are some examples:

White sporks strategically stuck into Kylie’s lawn spelling out, “Will you go to Homecoming with me?”
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The Burger King sign that says:
Hannah + Jacob
= Winter Ball?
Crispy Chicken Sandwich just $1.99
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The bag of flaming poo placed carefully on Mallory’s doorstep with the sign,
 “Prom would be crappy without you.”
Okay, so the last one wasn’t very good, but you get the idea.

So tell me, who in the world dreamed up this humiliation? Isn’t having the balls to go up to a girl and ask her out enough? What if she says, ‘no?’ It’s one thing to have your ego crushed. It’s another to know you spent $12.96 on four bags of Blow Pops so you could waste two hours mounting them on a poster board reading, “Life will suck if you don’t go to the dance with me.”

As a mother of boy who will (hopefully not too soon) be entering the dating game, I must call for this madness to stop. Asking a girl to the dance will be hard enough. Why make it harder?

If you don’t agree, then answer me this: As the girl in this little scenario, what if you don’t want to go out with the guy who asks you? It’s a lot easier saying ‘no’ to someone who didn’t just glass chalk the windows of your car with ‘The Top 10 Reasons U R Awesome.’  Another question: What if the guy just bags it? What if he decides he can’t come up with something cool enough to do so he just decides not to ask you at all? It’s been known to happen.

Okay, okay. So you already have a boyfriend. You know he’ll ask you to the dance and he knows you’ll say ‘yes.’ Why not have a little fun? My answer: resource utilization. Save his energy for more important acts of subjugation, like taking you to see a chick flick or carrying shopping bags at the mall.  Big Asks waste serious brownie points. With everyone trying to go green, you really shouldn't be wasteful.

Let's face it, we’re already high-maintenance. Stop the eye roll, you know it’s true. So this time let's throw the guys a bone? Say 'no more Big Asks,' please? 

My son will thank you later. I will, too.
 


Comments

Katja
09/30/2010 21:41

Since I am totally anti-social (and a freshman in high school), I ain't think anyone will me asking me to homecoming. Even though it is in December, seeing as how my school doesn't have a football team. Seriously, though, a simple question is enough for me. I'm not high-maintenance, or a romantic. This was an amusing post, though :)

Reply
10/01/2010 05:56

Katja,

Glad to hear you're not high maintenance. That'll make you very attractive to guys later. As for not going to Homecoming? No big whoop. I don't think I went freshman year. Come to think of it, I don't think I went sophomore year either....

See? Can't even really remember. Dances are just that magical. ;) Glad you enjoyed the post anyway!

Reply
10/02/2010 01:50

Hi Janene! What a beautiful post. :)

I can understand why you're worried about your son entering teendom. As a parent one can feel bad for the kids when they face rejections but eventually sooner or later, they will have to face it.

I remember during my teens, the weeks leading to my prom, how anxious I was about being asked to be someone's date. One of main concern was whether someone will even ask me out. I daren't ask anyone since it seemed improper then. To my horror, my parents arranged one for me. So imagine how I felt.

At the end, I got over it. I guess the best you can do as a mum is, just be there for your son. I think he'll be just fine because he's got you. :)

Have a great weekend!

Reply
10/02/2010 05:29

Oh my goodness, I am so grateful that this hadn't landed over here for my sons to endure. I have 3 sons, only one is still a teenager.

Teenage years are so difficult as all the hormones are crazy, the sort of pressure this prom stuff implies is awful.

No doubt it has been generated from some teen movie or series where everyone has perfect skin and teeth and they present an idyllic image of teendom.

I go with the Nelson Dynaminte school - let out kids be who they are for that moment in time without all this external pressure.

Great post - thank you for highlighting this worrying trend.

Reply
10/02/2010 09:52

@Funkkeejooce,

Argh! The arranged date! I'm sure your folks had the best of intentions -- which is usually when tragedy strikes! :) Glad you got over and had some fun. And you're right, waiting to be asked sucks, too. The dating game...sigh.

@Ladygoodwood,

I bet you're right about how this all originated. Too funny! I'm glad your boys escaped all of this, though I have to post a comment a guy shared on another forum: He said that most Big Asks are actually cop outs! That it's EASIER putting sporks in someone's lawn then asking them face-to-face. Gotta say, he made me think....

Reply
10/11/2010 15:26

his sis a second comment. I cannot see the full comment box on your blog. The right hand side of it disapperas for me so I can't see what I'm typing. In addition I'm visually impaired so here we go again ...

I really enjoyed the way you crafted this post. I didn't feel any anxiety at all about being asked. I simply asked my best friend if he figured we ought to go together and he said "yes". lol :D We went and we had a great time together.

Reply
10/11/2010 16:37

TT,
Sorry about the comment box. I agree, it kind of sucks but it's all I've got to work with right now. I went ahead and deleted your first comment.

As for going to the dance? Boy! I wish all situations could be that easy!

Reply



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