My daughter is graduating from high school this year, so we’ve been busy shopping for the prom dress, jewelry and shoes, scheduling appointments with the hairstylist and French manicurist, all in anticipation for prom night. Proms are expensive, with the average tab totaling somewhere between $800 - $1000.00 or more depending on how extravagant you get and can afford.
While high school seniors are entranced with excitement about graduation ceremonies, prom and after parties, parents like myself are primarily focused on prom safety and making sure my child arrives home after prom unscathed, with nary a scratch.
I’ve already had “The Talk” with my daughter, and we both understand each others wants and expectations for prom night, and I’ll be giving her young escort from school a talking to as well and clearly stating my position on sticking to the itinerary with no exceptions allowed.
My daughter laughed when I told her I needed this young man’s full name (and his parent’s names), phone number, address, height and body weight, any distinguishing marks, tattoo’s or body piercing so I can pick him out of a police lineup. 
I wasn’t kidding. I’m well aware of date rape statistics and the risky behaviors associated with graduating seniors attending prom, and I refuse to put my trust in someone I don’t know personally, regardless of how long my daughter and her prom date have known each other at school.
My husband and I will be driving them to prom, foregoing the expense of hiring a stretch limo, and we’ll be picking them up when the party ends at 1 a.m. After-parties are notorious for drinking and driving under the influence, including parties hosted at homes where parents have agreed to closely supervise party-goers, but there will be no after parties for my daughter where she may be put at risk.
Vehicular accidents and deaths during prom night are well documented, and news stations are flooded every year with story after story of young seniors who don’t make it home alive after prom, having been killed by a drunk driver or other drinking related accidents. Even though I’ve read recent claims and statistics that say “65% of 12th graders disapprove of consuming five or more drinks once or twice each weekend”, it’s the other 35% of teens drinking and driving that concerns me.
According to the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, 39% of high school senior males say it is acceptable to force sex with a girl who is intoxicated or high on drugs. The statistics of high school teens drinking and driving on prom night shows these students are seven times more likely to have sex, and much less likely to use any protection or condoms, thereby increasing their chances of pregnancy and STD’s.
I certainly want my daughter to enjoy herself at prom, and I have told her so many times, but as a parent I also need to make sure that everything possible is done to ensure her safety at prom, until she arrives back home safe and sound once the party is over. Her job is to have fun at prom, and my job is make sure she is alive and well the next day to talk about it.
译文:
派对安全：献给高中毕业生以及父母们的安全小锦囊
我的女儿今年要从高中毕业了，于是我们开始忙于购买礼服，珠宝，鞋子以及安排与发型师和法式美甲师的见面，这一切都是为了期待中的毕业舞会。
参加正式的舞会代价是很昂贵的，普通的规格总得也要800至1000美金，或者更高，这取决于你能享有何种奢华以及你能负担多少。
高中高年级生充满了对毕业典礼，舞会以及午夜派对（正式舞会结束后的派对）的憧憬，而像我自己这样的父母们，首先关注得是舞会的安全，以及确保我的孩子舞会结束后回家，没有受伤，一点伤都没有。
我已经和我的女儿交谈过了，我们彼此都清楚双方对于晚会所冀的期望，我也会和她在学校的小护花使者进行一次交谈来申明我的立场－我不允许途中有任何的意外发生。
当我问我女儿那个小伙子的全名（以及他父母的名字）、电话、住址、身高、体重以及有什么特征、纹身、或者身上有什么刺青以便我能从一群警察中认出他来时，我女儿乐坏了。
我可不是开玩笑的。我很清楚高中毕业生参加舞会的那些约会老规矩和危险的行为，并且我拒绝轻信一个我私底下不了解的人，无论她和她的舞会男伴在学校认识了多久。
考虑到租一辆豪华轿车的费用，我和我的丈夫会送他们去舞会并在午夜1点，舞会结束的时候接他们回来。午夜派对因酗酒和酒后驾驶臭名昭著，这当然也包括那些在家里举办，父母同意在一旁看着来参加派对的人的派对，但我的女儿是不会参加那些危险的午夜派对的。
参加完舞会后发生的车祸和死亡都被完整地记录下来，每年新闻里都充斥着一个接一个的年轻高中生被一名醉酒司机撞死而没能在舞会后安全返回家中的故事，或其它因醉酒而引发的事故。尽管我看到最近的报道和数据说“在高三学生中有65％的人反对一周或两周内饮酒超过五次”，但还有另35％的青少年喝酒，酒后驾驶的行为令我担忧。
据美国卫生和福利部门称，39％的高中高年级男生说他们强迫那些喝醉了的或者磕了药的女生发生关系是无可厚非的。在晚会中喝酒和驾驶的高中生的统计显示，这些学生一般有过七次以上的性行为，并且很多都不会采取任何保护措施或使用避孕套，因此，这增加了他们怀孕和得性病的几率。
我告诉过我女儿很多次，我当然希望她能好好享受舞会，但作为一名母亲，我也需要确认每件事都做好了，以此来确保她在舞会上的安全，直到舞会结束她平安无事得到家。她的任务是好好享受舞会，我的任务是确保她平安无事，第二天再与她交流舞会的事。