"My girl is such a princess." What does she even mean by this, I honestly wish I could ask her. 'My daughter is such a daughter of a monarch." You are not a princess because you wear makeup or have a frilly dress on. You're not a princess because you are treasured or because your parents like you a lot. You're not a princess because you make a difference in people's lives. All that stuff applies to normal people everywhere.
It also really grates on me how badly the Maasses seem to be missing the point of this thing. From the website:
Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs, ages 14 and older.
It is not merely a "special needs prom." The crown is not about "Prom Queen." From the website: Night to Shine is a celebration of God’s love for YOU, our Kings and Queens!
It's very clear the event is intended to recognize how loved these children are by God and of course their friends, family, and community. The Maasses want to make it about their daughter being a special princess who wears fancy clothes. They were offered something of value and instead went after a bit of shiny rubbish.
As they documented their preparations for the event, they made it very clear that this has little to do with loving Abbie or recognizing her as special. Over and over they disregarded her needs and instead tried to make this their little fantasy night, with the bonus being getting sweet views so they can get nicer bathroom countertops or whatever their latest reno is. They waited too late to get the dress. They went shopping for Priscilla's stupid trip instead, they set up, painted, and then repainted her office when they could have been getting Abbie a dress or taking it to be hemmed. Priscilla was at Arula getting the "princess" treatment when she knew her daughter's "prom" was the next week and they had no dress for it.
For the dress, they disregarded her sensory issues or her physical limitations and took her right to the juniors prom dress department, where they keep the most uncomfortable dresses which are the most troublesome to maneuver around in. There was not one dress they showed which reflected they had considered Abbie's particular needs.
They took her to get her hair cut, and again her needs were not considered. Instead, it was cut as Priscilla wanted, complete with useless long layers. Abbie still will not be able to care for her own hair. They don't care. And it will probably be another year and a half before they cut it again.
They held her down to apply pointless nail polish and they for some unknown reason saw fit to apply sunless tanner, which is a product which has a kind of nasty smell which makes even non-ID, non-autistic people want to avoid it. Why? Who could have possibly noticed Abbie's skin being a couple shades darker and why did Abbie need to change for these random weirdos (her parents, let's be real)?
Worst of all, they never hemmed the dress properly, because they waited last minute (again, Priscilla's trip, Priscilla's office, car shopping, football, tailgating, date night, day date, Mom trip...) and because they never made the effort to contact a seamstress even for a quick (expensive) adjustment. Instead they did whatever they did, tape or pins, with it still long on the sides and back. Abbie was rendered immobile by that dress and they did not care. They made her walk down stairs in that death trap. Abbie's physical well being, her comfort level, her peace-of-mind, her feeling of security--all were sacrificed on the altar of "Priscilla's Princess Fantasy."
How is Abbie supposed to "dance the night away" in a dress which is dragging several inches on the floor all around except in the very front?? EXPLAIN IT, ASA.
"Special needs," do these two even know what that means any more? Because their entire lives are centered around THEIR RIDICULOUS "NEEDS". Their "need" to go wherever the fuck they want to do whatever they want without regard for their daughter. Their "need" to make more money so they can spend more on themselves. Their "need" to feel like they are royalty.
SPECIAL NEEDS prom CENTERED around GOD'S LOVE. Their takeaway? Prom. Princess. Makeup. Fake tan.
And now they will go right back to neglecting her needs and forcing her to perform for free, like a circus animal. Probably worse, because the only footage they were able to get was her sitting down or about 5 seconds standing on the dance floor. Asa seemed like he was already tipsy at the end of the video, like he'd come home and pounded shots. And it sounded like Priscilla was sitting next to the booze buffet, probably in her pajamas, drowning her sorrows, not wanting to be filmed.
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