Pre-dance-party tips for moms of teenage girls

So last week I wrote down some party tips for hosting an 8-year-old's birthday.

Fast-forward a week and now I have some tips for hosting the Pre-Dance Prep Party for teenage girls.

The particular party I recently hosted was specifically for 15-year-olds, but could apply for all ages of teen girls. And I suppose I should specify that this is not an actual "Party" by definition but as much music that is playing and kids dancing and hollering, it might as well be a party. This is the time period before a school dance, where a number of girls get together to get ready, or primp, for the dance and here a few tips:

* Offer to invite a minimum of least one to two of your daughter's friends to help her get ready prior to her dance. Now, I made the crazy assumption that my daughter was capable of getting ready by herself but apparently having of her friends getting ready at the same time, helps her with primping decisions that I am clearly not qualified to make.

* To prepare in advance for the Pre-Dance party, turn on ALL of the lights in the house. They'll get turned on anyway in every room and in every closet from top to bottom, so just have it out of the way. Also, set out all available hair products and plug in every available hair styling tools so they're nice and hot for all hair styling options. Also set out various makeup products, even the ones you thought needed to be trashed years ago. Someone just might want to wear the dark purple halloween lipstick, ya know, to highlight their dress.

* Offer refreshments during the process but expect they won't eat or drink anything. You'll have to prepare some good "mom" speeches about how healthy it is to eat three meals a day, and if that doesn't convince them to eat, slip a few granola bars and some juice boxes in between their hair products and pray they catch on.

* Now, during this time, keep in mind that you will be asked your opinion on the dress and shoes and jewelry and hair multiple times. No matter what answer you provide, your teenage daughter will still question if you're being genuine or not, and secretly disagree with your opinion.

Don't take it personally, as a mom, it's just the way it is. Hence, the reason the friends are there. Only their opinions truly matter.

* Be prepared for last-minute costume changes. Even if you bought a dress weeks or months ahead of time does in no way mean your daughter will actually be wearing it to the dance. The same with the shoes or jewelry or whatever you thought was a done deal. Girls and their friends decide that sometimes each other's dresses actually look better on each other than themselves, or in our case that tennis shoes look better than dress shoes when it's time to leave.

* If there is the least bit of cold weather the evening of the dance, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT recommend your daughter wear a coat. That is just absurd! Coats are for kids and old ladies. I suggest you continue to beg, especially when there's snow and ice involved, but be satisfied with the light jacket she yanks out and throws on in disgust as she heads out the door.

If the dance begins at 9 p.m., do not "assume" that the girls and their dates will want to arrive at that time. In fact, getting ready begins at 9 p.m. and arriving at the dance can be anywhere from one to 2 two hours after it begins. And that's OK. I myself would want to capitalize on the full 3 hours of dancing opportunity, especially since I went to so much trouble to look good, but I am mistaken. 1 or 1 ½ hours of dancing is plenty.

* Make sure you're caffeinated when she gets home after because despite the fact that you might desperately need to go to bed, she is still reeling from her super fun evening and wants to tell you all about it.

* And lastly, after you finally get to go to bed, say a prayer of thanks that you have a healthy, happy daughter with good friends to get ready for dances with, and house to host them in. Thank Him for the crazy but special moments you get to share with your teenage daughter.