How to host a Jr. Prom pre party

When your child asks, the day before prom,
"Mom, can we do pictures here before the prom"?
Answer "Ummm sure honey, how many will be coming"?
You will then be "lowballed" and told
"maybe 5 or 6 couples and a few parents".

In preparation for the pre prom event:
Clean the house and pick up some snacks.
Make sure you have fresh batteries for your camera.
Plant some flowers (in the rain) to make a lovely backdrop
for the photos that will be taken outside (should it stop raining).
Mow the lawn in the rain.
Weed the gardens in the rain.
Pray it stops raining.

At the event:
Welcome the kids and the parents you know into your home.
Oooh and aaaah over the handsome young men in
their tuxedos and big shiny black shoes.
Ooooh and aaaaah over the beautiful girls in
their dresses, jewelry, updos and flowers.
Try not to act surprised as parents you don't know start arriving.
Catch up with people you haven't seen in years and
who you never even knew had a child who knows your child.
Graciously welcome the siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles,
and friends of the family who came with mom and dad to
send off Jr and Sweetie B to the prom.
Close your mouth as the house fills with not 5 or 6 couples
and a few parents but 13 prom couples and their entourage.
Supply extra batteries to parents in distress with dead cameras.
Supply safety pins for young ladies whose trains are too long.
Give up on pouring wine or soda for guests.
Try to move 100 pairs of shoes out of the way for picture taking.
Organize photo opps on the stairs, in the basement,
in front of the fireplace, or on the porch (as it did not stop raining).
Herd children to said photo spot.
Explain to children "this will take as long as it takes
for 26 sets of parents and grandparents to take photos
so be quiet stand still and you may still
make it to prom tonight"
Cry a little because they all look so beautiful
and you cannot believe these are the 17 year olds
who were just starting Kindergarten together yesterday.