Backyard Prom: 7-Year-Old Throws Party for His Nanny

A 7-year-old boy threw a backyard prom for his nanny after the pandemic canceled her senior prom.

Curtis Rogers, 7, hosted the socially distanced mini-prom in his family’s backyard on May 25, 2020. The guest of honor was Rachel Chapman, 17, a senior at Sanderson High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, ABC News reported.

7-YEAR-OLD THREW A BACKYARD PROM FOR HIS NANNY

FOX 13 quoted Rachel on putting on the dress she had expected to wear to her senior prom: “I was kind of like bummed putting my dress on because I was sad; I don’t get to wear it to my senior prom.”

Why Curtis planned it

Rachel had watched Curtis part-time after school for more than a year. Then pandemic safety measures stopped the babysitting, and the two went two months without seeing each other.

Curtis wanted to cheer her up, and he wanted to see her. His mother helped him organize the evening.

“I planned it out because Rachel probably wanted to see me a lot,” Curtis told 6abc.

He also said, “She also is one of the best people I’ve known.”

CBS News quoted the invitation sign Curtis made. It read: “Mini prom is not today, but will you join me on Monday.”

How the night went

Curtis was waiting outside when Rachel arrived, holding a pool noodle.

“First he was waiting outside when we got there with the pool noodle and then he led me into the backyard,” Rachel said.

The noodle kept them apart. ABC News said jump ropes also helped separate them.

TIME reported that Curtis wore a suit and bow tie picked to match Rachel’s dress.

Google provided the music, playing Rachel’s favorite songs, 6abc reported.

The menu was built around what she likes. Peanut butter and apples came first, then Chick-fil-A for the main course and smoothies for dessert, ABC News reported.

“He had all my favorite foods and everything. I could tell he put a lot of thought into it,” Rachel said.

Curtis made a toast, and the two danced while keeping their distance.

The night turned out better than Rachel expected. “After leaving it and having that time with him because it was the first time I had seen him in two months, it was like, really fun, and I’m really glad that he did that,” she said.

Her mother, Becky Chapman, called the gesture sweet. “It was a sweet thing for him to do,” she said. “They have a special relationship.”

The mini-prom was not a school event. It was a one-boy stand-in for the prom Rachel lost.