The Mother of a High School Senior - Financial Challenges

Applying for college, the dorm (this was relatively straight-forward, since Emily has planned to go to NDSU ever since she could say "Bison" - Very Big Grin), finding and applying for scholarships...

And planning for graduation (it is like a practice wedding reception in these parts, far removed from the cake, coffee and 15 relatives back in the 1900's when I graduated!!

And now there is Prom.....Not only Emily, but also her 16 year old sister Mara will be going this year....Mom's philosophy regarding prom is that is a planned expense to be budgeted for...

My "budget" for each of my two younger daughters is $300 for prom...Period...No matter how many years they choose to go, no matter how many proms a year they attend. So Far, So Good!

Emily wore a sister's bridesmaid dress her Freshman year, a used dress her sophomore year, bought a dress last year, and has $50 left to come from good old Mom. Emily is a workaholic, works as a nurse's aide during the school year at the convent nursing home in town (loves it!) and also at the local Drive In during the summer. She is literally rolling in dough.

Mara, will go this year for her first prom. She knows the $300 from Mom rule. But wants a "Princess Dress"....Do you know how much those frilly, poufy things cost? We are checking eBay, used dresses, etc trying to spend less than half her "budget" this year (hopefully Mara will someday "get a job"!!).

There is also the Family Tradition in the Hendrickson-Pankows--a Senior Trip with Mom. Nathan and I went to Amsterdam for 8 days when he graduated, it was totally a great experience. Angie got a little cheated, she tagged along with me to a National Meeting in Los Angeles, but my sister and her son Todd (also a Senior) were along, and we had the best time (Jay Leno, Hollywood Tours, Universal Studies, they even stood in line to be on "The Price is Right", my sister was chosen for the second taping but they had to leave to meet me to get to Jay Leno, so it never happened).

Mom did some European travel as a College Junior, 2 1/2 months, so saw several countries. France included, but not Paris. So Mom put the bug in Emily's ear that her Senior Trip would be to Paris.

Well, Mom, Mara and Emily will take on Paris March 6-12 (leave March 5, the day after the Regional Science Fair that Emily has participated in for the last 6 years). We will come back the day before the Boys State B Basketball Tourney begins (and our team is ranked #1 in our district and should be a contender).

And did I mention that the girls are also ranked #1 in their District for girls basketball? They will be going to Regionals (exact rank not yet determined, we are in the middle of District Tournaments right now). If they make it to state, that would be the end of Feb/March 1!

A busy time ahead, and lots of Money to make it happen!