Teen takes mom to prom because she missed her own 24 years ago

Belinda Smith was devastated after having to miss her prom 24 years ago. But now, her son is finally giving her the night she missed out on by taking her to his own prom.

Danotiss Smith, 18, made an unusual choice by asking his mother Belinda to his prom. The Pontiac, Mich. mom was overjoyed, but confused as to why her son was asking her and not somebody else.

"I was flattered," Belinda told ABC News. "I asked him, 'You don't want to ask someone else? 'You don't have a special friend, someone cool that you can have fun with?' I'm still elated. I'm just so happy that he wanted to share his day with me."

Dalontiss, however, had a very touching reason reason for asking his mom. Belinda's mother had passed away in 1985, and when it came time for her prom in 1991, she didn't have the finances to go.

"Our whole life basically changed overnight," Belinda told ABC News. "I remember my sister going to prom and I couldn't wait to go. I was asked to the prom but we didn't have the money."

"Every day after school leading up to prom I cried," she added. "I just wanted to go so bad. From there, I said 'When I have kids, my kids are going to prom.' I wanted them to have what I didn't have."

Danotiss was aware of his mom's heartbreaking prom story, and took it upon himself to give his mom the night she missed out on so many years ago.

"I just felt like it was right to ask her cause she couldn't go to her prom," he said. "She couldn't afford it back then so I thought it would be pretty sweet to ask her."

Danotiss' unconventional date has definitely generated some reactions amongst his peers. "Some of my friends thought it was pretty cool that I'm taking my mom. Some said it's kind of weird," he told ABC News.

Belinda chose an orange dress for the event and Delontiss picked her out a white corsage. The Waterford Kettering High School senior prom will be held on Friday with about 350 students in attendance. Delontiss and his mother are very much looking forward to the event.

"I just want her to enjoy it," he said. "I want her to get that experience and have some fun."