One day at school pickup when the topic of hoco dance came up, little miss Haana told me with finality, "I'm not going". "Not going! why?", just out of curiosity i pressed. "Just don't wanna". "Ok, but just so i know, why?". I tried to sound like it was purely a scientific enquiry and no judgement on my part. "I just don't wanna mumma. And i don't wanna talk about it". And that was it, the door on this conversation was shut. Later i was told nonchalantly that Luca asked her to go to the dance (somewhat together but maybe not? But maybe yes? So confused!) but she said no cause she doesn't wanna go with him (awesome!). Luca is her friend from middle school. He lives close to our house, and was seen at our around our house suspiciously a whole lot around the summer. But he was then told 'not interested'.
Later at a get together with other moms (these are moms of her middle school gang) i was told what a big deal hoco dance is supposed to be. Some of the girls were going to hocos in multiple schools if they had a friend in another school they were going with. Moms were sharing their hoco dress experiences. Keerti told me of the relief she felt, that the dress that was picked was neither too short nor too low. Shilpa told me she ordered multiple dresses to cover her bases, the dresses not selected to be returned (by her) later. Other moms shared the hoco dress pictures.
Little miss Haana's school hoco came and went. She didn't go. I said to her something along the lines of - there's no need for peer pressure to do or not do anything. She can be her own person. She doesn't have to do something just because everyone else is doing it. I have no idea how it landed, cause remember she said -'I don't wanna talk about it'.
A week or two later little miss Haana's birthday was coming up. She said she wants to have her middle school girl gang over. And that they all dress up together at our home and go out for a fancy dinner together in their hoco dresses! And so it was!
Little miss Haana and I went to the mall for dress shopping. We tried on 10 or 12 dresses, landed on 1. Shopped accessories. And surprisingly we did not - take too long, or have a fight or break the bank! And I call that a huge win!
On Saturday, 8 or 10 of little miss Haana's middle school girlfriends came over. These girls have known each other for years, some of them have been together since kinder. There was hugging, and screaming and gifts. Then all afternoon these girls were dressing up upstairs. Multiple hot irons were tripping up our electric sockets. And then they were taking pictures in the yard! Finally we all went to an Italian place for dinner. We took pictures on the outside patio at the restaurant. After dinner and dessert the girls took more pictures at the boardwalk on the lake and the fountain across the street from the restaurant. And then, when they'd had enough, and we all headed back home!
It was a great day and a good party, complete with fancy dresses, good friends and delicious food!
