Appropriate corsage for 8th grader?

[alum]

Originally Posted by Army Wife'79

Alum this brings back memories of Ft. Leavenworth where all the kids were going with pals then at the 11th hour, they all started asking the girls. grrrr. Last minute scrambling for flowers I'm sure on the Mom's part. I called the boy's mom and said we would drive if they would pick up. We were already chaperones at the dance so had to go early anyway. When we arrived at his house we all took pics of them at their quarters. Each girl who came in was given a long stemmed flower (carnation maybe?) in case she didn't have a "date". It was funny tho, b/c the boys immed. split off into one direction and the girls in another and they hung with their friends most of the night except for slow dances. Now they're both Facebook friends. It's funny how Facebook brings you back together with other Army brats you were stationed with all over the country.

My oldest was at MacArthur when we were at Leavenworth. Luckily there was no 6th grade dance.

I know that there is a West Point Middle School '02 Facebook group for "all West Point Middle School Alumni from the class of 2002. Join if you graduated with us or would have if your parents hadn't moved." She found out that 3 of her classmates from our court alone just finished yearling year.

[alum]

I was tired and cranky last night. I'm sure this little girl is a lovely young lady. I'm annoyed at the middle school for scheduling the dance in the evening vs. right after school AND allowing "dates". If it had been directly after school, it would have much more age-appropriate.

Since the whole scenario in terms of asking the girl is fait accompli, I asked him about flowers. He said nobody would do this but I had my doubts so I did call 2 moms with social-butterfly boys. Corsages are being bought. Now we have to go shopping tonight as he grown a lot since Easter and the arms on his dress shirts are annoyingly just slightly too short. Again, a little bit more head's up on this would have been nice.

[TrojanWoman]

Originally Posted by alum

I'm annoyed at the middle school for scheduling the dance in the evening vs. right after school AND allowing "dates". If it had been directly after school, it would have much more age-appropriate.

It is becoming much more common for 8th grade dances to be in the evening and to almost mimic the sort of dances these kids will be experiencing next year in high school. At one school I worked at, we did this to help prepare them for this next social step in a more comfortable enviornment than just being thrown into a high school dance. Most of the schools around here still don't allow "dates" and say that you can show up alone or with same sex friends. As others have said, even with dates, most 8th graders tend to spend their dances in giant clumps anyways!

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by TrojanWoman

It is becoming much more common for 8th grade dances to be in the evening and to almost mimic the sort of dances these kids will be experiencing next year in high school. At one school I worked at, we did this to help prepare them for this next social step in a more comfortable enviornment than just being thrown into a high school dance. Most of the schools around here still don't allow "dates" and say that you can show up alone or with same sex friends. As others have said, even with dates, most 8th graders tend to spend their dances in giant clumps anyways!

That was true for us too. We had a lot of school dances starting in sixth grade, but they were mostly after school and kids wore jeans/whatever they wore to school. There was a lot of running, standing in clumps, and I remember people would do that thing where you lock arms and spin around really fast. Also if they had a video screen that played the music videos for the songs, it was a REALLY COOL dance and then everyone just stared at the screen and sang along to the songs. (Mariah Carey, "Fantasy," oh yeah!!!)

I also remember a lot of crying in the girls' room but I honestly can't remember why because there was nothing to cry about.

In 8th grade at the end of the year there was one evening dance where people dressed up really nicely and took "dates." Mostly you just met up with your date at the dance. I ended up having my first kiss at that one. With a totally hippie/goth guy because that was my thing then. LOL. Silly baby breathesgelatin.

In short I don't think have a semiformal evening dance in 8th grade is a big deal. A lot of people start dating more seriously once they hit high school. The popular girls in my class - and not the trashy ones either - were all dating juniors in high school in the fall of the next year. I guess most people start dating around 15 or 16... My first "date" was a group date a 14 - our parents dropped us all off at a movie. I tried to hold my boyfriend's hand and he got upset because he thought I was moving too fast. LOL. I'm such a hooch, clearly. It's funny now because he is still one of my dear friends and we were co-percussion captains in high school band. (Yeah, nerd fest.)

My mom is a substitute teacher who practically works full time at my middle school. She's been asked to chaperone a lot of the middle school dances because she's respected as a teacher who won't put up with crap. She loves going to them and thinks they are the funniest and most pitiful things in the world. It makes her month to be asked to work at one. Of course my mom really has a passion for middle schoolers. She says they're so fascinating because they're not quite human.

Sorry for this long, rambly post... I guess my point is, middle school dances are pretty pathetic and I think an 8th grade semiformal is actually kind of nice practice for high school. Also helps the good kids to really start to see what the good kids actually DO at a dance vs. the kids who are more loose with everything... because I do think that more forward guys and girls really do start pushing the limits of dating/sexual stuff in 8th grade, and the good kids start to realize what things they SHOULDN'T be doing. If that makes sense. I really think by the end of 8th grade/definitely by 9th grade, parents really need to just believe that they've given the kids a good foundation and start backing off a bit and letting them explore their (slightly pitiful) young adult lives.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

That was true for us too. We had a lot of school dances starting in sixth grade, but they were mostly after school and kids wore jeans/whatever they wore to school. There was a lot of running, standing in clumps, and I remember people would do that thing where you lock arms and spin around really fast. Also if they had a video screen that played the music videos for the songs, it was a REALLY COOL dance and then everyone just stared at the screen and sang along to the songs. (Mariah Carey, "Fantasy," oh yeah!!!)

I also remember a lot of crying in the girls' room but I honestly can't remember why because there was nothing to cry about.

Ha ha, other than we didn't have a video screen and substitute "Heartache Tonight" always getting played for the Mariah, this is EXACTLY what our dances were like. That makes me feel good for some reason.

[nate2512]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Ha ha, other than we didn't have a video screen and substitute "Heartache Tonight" always getting played for the Mariah, this is EXACTLY what our dances were like. That makes me feel good for some reason.

You can substitute, "The Dance" for us, that was the song everyone danced to.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by alum

I was tired and cranky last night. I'm sure this little girl is a lovely young lady. I'm annoyed at the middle school for scheduling the dance in the evening vs. right after school AND allowing "dates". If it had been directly after school, it would have much more age-appropriate.

When I was in 7th and 8th grade (94/95), our dances were always on Friday evenings, and didn't start until around 7 or so. Almost everyone brought dates as well.

I can see how that can be stressful for parents, though, since the kids aren't old enough to drive yet, so the parents end up having to coordinate everything (as opposed to high school proms and dances).

[srmom]

Back when my boys went to 8th grade dance (3 over the last 8 years YIKES), the trend was to buy a bouquet of flowers or a small nose gay type thing instead of a corsage. They didn't start wearing corsages until they actually stayed with their date throughout the night.

At 8th grade dance, they all had "dates" but by the time the music started, they were all dancing in a group - so Voila, no dates.

Maybe that's why they don't give dates corsages in college either - haha.

[nate2512]

Originally Posted by srmom

Maybe that's why they don't give dates corsages in college either - haha.

That or you'd get drunk and pissed off at the aggravating thing attached to you.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by nate2512

That or you'd get drunk and pissed off at the aggravating thing attached to you.

Is the "thing attached to you" the corsage? Or your date?

[LPIDelta]

OhSoVeryLadyLike:
On the one with the ribbon, did you just cut the flower stem off and glue gun it on to the ribbon and then glue the leaves in place, or did you use florist tape and then add the ribbon? How do you get it to sit on the wrist without poking the wearer?

[nate2512]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Is the "thing attached to you" the corsage? Or your date?

Well played.

[christiangirl]

I'm feeling more and more like a loser with everyone reminiscing about their "When I went to the 8th grade dance..." stories. When I was in 8th grade...I went to a Baptist school and they said dances were sinful. I didn't get to go to one till I transferred.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

I'm feeling more and more like a loser with everyone reminiscing about their "When I went to the 8th grade dance..." stories. When I was in 8th grade...I went to a Baptist school and they said dances were sinful. I didn't get to go to one till I transferred.

Don't worry, you didn't miss much. Mostly standing around in a circle, watching the few couples who were brave enough to dance.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I had an eight grade (PROM)otion dance. It was 7pm at a Wyndham Resort Hotel. Dress was "semi-formal" (but everyone had bought really nice clothes/dresses so they had to take that back) and dinner was served. (We even had a prince/princess I believe). I think the only people who had dates were mostly those who were already "going together" and of course all the "fast" children. I went with my girlfriends. The same for 12th grade prom. I never had a date to a dance until I started going to greek formals! I never got a corsage until I asked for one...