Mom Prom: mothers and kids get their groove on

In the midst of prom season, a different kind of prom was held in Long Beach, California on April 26 – a MOM PROM.



As the name implies, it was a formal prom for mothers who were escorted by their children. But the children weren’t high schoolers. The children were mainly toddlers and elementary-school aged. A few who weren’t even able to stand up on two legs yet.

“This is to honor mothers and motherhood,” explained organizer Justin Rudd. “We wanted to give mothers something special for the raising their children to have good manners and respect.”

Rudd and his crew did it up exactly like a high school prom – formal attire was worn, prom photos were taken and a prom queen was crowned. But because young children were involved, the refreshments were cookies and cupcakes, and, of course, the punch bowl wasn’t spiked.

The kids seemed to be having fun. As were the mothers. The moms danced with their kids. And when they got tired, the kids danced with each other. And sometimes the kids just ran around chasing each other.

They grooved out to disco tunes like “Night Fever” and “Shake Your Groove Thing.” They danced to classics like “Rock Around the Clock” and “The Twist,” songs that are even older than the mothers attending. And they danced to modern hits from High School Musical and Miley Cyrus. At one point, a conga line stretched halfway across the church gymnasium that was transformed into a dance floor for the event.

Prom Queen Samantha Pioch with son Tyler

Samantha Pioch of Torrance, who was crowned the Mom Prom Queen, was delighted by the affair, saying “friends told me how much fun this was and they were right.” Wearing a black and white gown, she was escorted by sons Tyler, 5, and Brody, 3, who looked like dapper gentlemen were wearing black slacks, white shirts and black ties. “We’ve had a great time. I never expected to be named prom queen.”

Katie Walsh with son Conner

Katie Walsh, who was last year’s Mom Prom Queen, returned with her son Conner, 2. “I wanted something special to do. It’s our own little date,” said Walsh who drove two hours to attend (she moved from Long Beach to Oxnard a few months ago). And she’s already planning to return for the next one. However, next year, Walsh, who’s seven and a half months pregnant, will have a son and a daughter escorting her.

Rudd, who also puts on a Father-Daughter Dance every February, got the idea to do the Mom Prom when mothers were feeling left out. And several mothers said they came specifically because their husbands who had been to the Father-Daughter Dance recommended it.

But the dads were not allowed to attend. “We keep the dads out. We want it to be extra special just for the moms,” Rudd said. “It’s kind of like your mom coming to spy on you at the prom , you don’t do it.”

By the end of the two-hour dance, moms and kids alike were tired. But as they began taking down the decorations, kids being kids, got their energy up again to play with balloons.

Mom Prom organizer Justin Rudd

Visit Justin Rudd's website

Photos by James F. Mills