Children of Greeks wearing GLO merchandise
 

I've been wanting to bring this subject up for a while now, so here goes.....

I think it is kind of cute to see kids in a Greek-themed t-shirt that says something like:
"A Kappa loves me" or
"My Mom is a DZ" or
"Chi Omega Legacy".

I have no problem with the above phrases...none whatsoever.
They're cute and they're more about their relative's affiliation than the child themselves.

However, what do you guys think about a t-shirt that says:
"Future ______ <insert name of GLO here>"

Do you think this could be construed as (what's the word I'm looking for?) ....err...presumptuous?
Do you think it could be "harmful" to kids as they might grow up thinking that they're a "shoo-in" to that group? (maybe not harmful, but maybe potentially sets them up for disappointment if they don't get the same GLO as their Mom, Grandmother or sister?)

I think if a kid is, say, 3, it might be kind of cute, but if a kid is say, 14, it might be seen as a bit presumptious?

Does your org sell merchandise that says this phrase or is it more independent Greek Letter boutiques that might have these shirts made up and then sell them?


To quote the character Linda Richman (from Mike Myer's famous "Coffee Talk" skit)....:
DISCUSS AMONGST YOURSELVES! ;)

I'm glad someone else was thinking about this! I asked our chapter advisor whether or not it would be a good idea to get t-shirts for my sisters who are 15 and 17.
She said that there is nothing wrong with letting relatives wear our shirts, but since one is 17 she might get the wrong idea. She suggested that I just buy an extra party shirt and give it to them rather than get a shirt that says, "AOII Legacy" on it.
My sisters are well aware that they are not going to automatically get a bid to join AOII if they rush. So, I think that as long as you make it clear to the person who is wearing it, it should not be an issue.
As for the "Future _______," I think they are so cute! The only time I have seen something like that printed was on like a one piece baby outfit. I don't see anything wrong with it at all. Besides, the baby is not going to understand what it says and means, so I don't see the harm in it!

Courtney

Absolutely, Courtney, I agree with you...the shirts for babies are rather cute.
However, do the shirts that say "Future _____", do they exist for Bigger Kids who would understand what it means?
Just wondering.

By the way, there is some REALLY CUTE Greek stuff for kids at:
www.babygreek.com
Not all GLOs are available, but it is a good start nevertheless!

Click here and here and go Awww!! ;)

CutiePie, you're so right. We have an AOII Kid Sister sweatshirt for our 6-year-old but I'd never want her 16-year-old sister to wear a Future AOII shirt. (All right, all right, and not a future Pi Phi shirt either!) First, I don't want the older girls who understand what a sorority is to think that they're entitled to a bid because they're a legacy. Second, I want them to make up their own minds and not feel obligated to take a bid because they're legacies.

With 2 rushing this fall and 3 more rushing in the next 4 years, we just want them to go into rush with totally unbiased mindsets.

Personally, I have only seen these shirts on babies or very small children. Has anyone actually seen an older child or sibling wearing these? I also agree that for an older child/sister/relative, an event shirt would be best.

This isn't the same thing, but when I was a sophomore in college, my 16 year old brother came to visit for the weekend. This also happened to be the weekend of Kappa Sigma see-saw-a-thon(side bar--the KSig's construct this HUGE see-saw and rock the thing for like 2 days to raise money for their philanthopy. Its really fun because you can go down there at like 4am and see people sleeping all around it and people rocking away!). Anyways, all of us bough the t-shirts for this event and we ended up having extra's, so when my brother was there, I asked him if he wanted one and he did. The good thing was, he is a Kappa Sig legacy(my dad), so I thought that was kind of neat. He LOVED wearing it around our hometown, but when he went to college, he left it at home(and I stole it back!), because there were Kappa Sig's on his new campus and he didn't want to come off as thinking he was a shoo-in, and also because he knew from me that your letters can mean a lot and it just wouldn't be right for him to wear them there. He did not end up going Kappa Sig, but I know he did learn a lot about greek life from that one weekend and I thought it was a great promotion for greek life--when he would wear it to school, people would ask about it and he would tell them all about philanthropy and cool fundraising events for good causes that greeks do.
Anyways--I think its fine as long as people know that being a legacy, while a GREAT THING, does not mean you are a shoo-in and also does not mean you HAVE TO be that GLO. You are your own person--set your own path!

I was a double Chi-O legacy. My older sister had this really good idea--when I was about 6 (she's a lot older than me!), she had me this little sweatshirt made with a big appliqued owl on the front, just like the ones she and her sisters wore, except that instead of having the Chi-O letters embroidered on the owl's belly it had my name instead. I still thought I was cool because I had a shirt like my sister's, but it wasn't as presumptuous, I guess you'd say, as a "Future _________" shirt. My sisters were really good about not making me feel like I just HAD to go Chi-O, so when I joined DZ I didn't feel bad at all. So now my youngest sister is a legacy to two sororities, but when the time comes I'm going to follow my sisters' example and make sure she knows that she won't hurt my feelings if she isn't a DZ. But I do occasionally give her tee-shirts from our date parties and stuff. ;)

I have let my sister wear my bid day shirts, party shirts, etc. but I would never let her wear my block letter shirts. I just feel those should be for members only. And, I'd never give her a shirt that said "Future ZTA".....you just never know. (She's a High School senior and will be attending the University of Florida in the fall)

Pi Kappa Phi has a family member program. www.pikapp.org/familymember.asp

When our son was born, my husband registered him with the program. The fraternity then sent us a congratulations letter and the baby REALLY NICE bib with "Future Pi Kapp" and the star shield.

I saw some big ol grown XXXL sized FUTURE AKA/DELTA/SGRHO/ZETA shirts at Greekfest 2000. The reactions of myself and my line sisters was aww hell no!

Why on earth would you wear that? Do you want to never, ever be considered for membership? Do you want to receive some hardcore clowning? Are you trying to become an outcast?

There is nothing wrong with the 'My Mommy/Daddy is XYZ" shirts, those are cute! But you have to draw the line at 'Future" wear.

I think the my mommy is anSGRHO/DELTA/ZETA/AKA tee shirts are tooooo cute!!!! I agree with lovelyIvy84...I would be highly upset if I saw a nongreek with a Future BGLO tee shirt on... Membership isn't promised to NO ONE!!!!! ;)

On a slightly different note, I bought my parents "Phi Mu Mom" and "Phi Mu Dad" shirts. They are both in GLO's, but neither of them wear letters anymore. I would feel really weird wearing anything SDT (my mom's org.) around campus.

I agree... If a baby is wearing a bib that says "My Mommy/Daddy is an XYZ" that's fine - it's just stating a fact - mommy or daddy is an XYZ. Older kids should get party/event/bid day shirts if they're interested (not block letters, because that implies you yourself belong to the GLO) - If someone says "Oh, you're an XYZ?" they can always reply "No, but my sister/brother is." In my book that's acceptable.

As for "Future XYZ" that's not a fact - the little legacy may decide to go to a school where XYZ is not represented, or may choose to join a different GLO or not rush at all. So that's inappropriate for a T-shirt.

Hold on a sec...
 

KA BillyMac -- I am WAITING for my "Future KA" bib :D - Don't listen to these people! :D (If we have a boy that is!)

As for a girl...well we all KNOW what she will have :D

I think the future stuff for a baby is fine (yes, like 5 and under) -- I still haven't bought anything for my nieces though, so we'll see.

Definitely a NO-NO for the older group - stick with the "My mommy/daddy/sister/etc....." type stuff.

My thoughts
 

I purchased a "My Mommy is an AKA" bib for my line sister's son, who weighs over 20 pounds but is only 6 months of age. :D

I don't have any problems with the gear for children roughly 10 years of age or younger. Teenagers, however, shouldn't be sporting any GLO gear until they become a member of their chosen organization.

ST
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Epsilon Xi Omega, #8, December 2000

Last semester when I was a new member, one of the girls in my n.m. class asked an "old member" if she could buy an extra ZTA shirt for her 17-year-old sister for Christmas, and the "old member" told her "no, that's not a good idea." Obviously the girl being in high school would probably (although not necessarilly) wear the shirt to her school & brag to her friends like "I'm gonna be a ZTA because my sister is". Especially since the shirt to which she was refferring was a stitched-letter shirt and did NOT have any other phrases on it like "legacy" or anything. Obviously it would also just not be right for a non-member to wear a shirt with just our letters on them, because she has not yet (and may not ever) "earn" those by becoming a ZTA. Then my fellow new member proceeded to say "Well y'all better be nice to my sister, because she's coming through rush next fall." That phrase bothered me... why would we NOT be nice to ANYONE going through rush?!? It's not like we're going to be MEAN to ANYONE, even if we don't think they're right for ZTA. LOL.

I bought my mom, on the other hand, a vest that said "ZTA mom" on it, but that's a completely different story.

Chi Omega doesn't make "Future Chi O" shirts for older kids. My kids both have Chi O and Delt stuff but we won't pressure them to go one way or another.

I bought my parents the "Chi O Mom" and "dad" sweatshirts.....they were blue with plaid block letters and then the mom or dad stitched underneath. Dad still has his. My mom kept hers always too, and after she died when I cleaned out her place and I found it it was very sad. I didn't keep it. I should have in case Paige goes Chi O someday but then I won't just be her mom, I'll be her sister. I have my own DTD sweatshirt I had made when Brent and I were dating and I had a CHi O shirt made for him which he still has.

I got my mom a Theta Chi Mom sweatshirt cuz she loves Theta Chi :) I would feel more comfortable with my daughter wearing stuff than my son.

Zetaluv, it might be a good idea that during recruitment practice, discussions, etc., that members be reminded of your sorority's policy. If the next rush period is the nm's first, and her sister is going through, she is going to be super hyper. Depending on the policy, some chapters take as many legacies as they can, others..just because you're a legacy doesn't mean you are guaranteed a bid.

There are some great threads under Rush about legacies.

have to agree with CutiePie.

Baby Greek does have some really cute stuff - I'm a guy and I can tell...:D

Click here to see my personal fave for Beta.

Nice website that carries greek baby stuff
 

I know that the national organizations of many groups actually license and approve the designs offered by manufacturers, retailers and e-stores, so you can bet if they don't want the words Future _____ on a shirt they will not approve it. A sorority sister in our alumnae chapter produces really cute Greek baby clothing at accessories at GreekGiftsEtc.com. Just click on Alumnae Gifts or Greek Apparel to see the link to the baby department. They have really cute designs that are very unique and they let you choose which phrase you want on the child's garment. Also I don't believe the offer anything but infant and toddler sizes so we're not talking about clothing for a 10 year old here. Here is a direct link for those interested: http://greekgifts.safeshopper.com/171/cat171.htm

Such adorable things on this website! Almost makes me want to have a third....not quite, but almost ! :)

Just to add my 2 cents, I think that young children wearing the apparel is fine. Once the child/tween/teenager is aware enough to know the connotation and formulate the thought that they are "definitely going to be a XYZ" then its not ok. I think most of the baby stuff is cool.

http://www.stuff4greeks.com/fratbrat...index.html#top

I had to give this the ol' bumpity-bump, because this merchandise is cute, but it also makes me wonder if dressing children in stuff that says "Future _____ (insert GLO nickname here)" will come back to haunt the parents later. Hmmm......

PS this is a company that is geared to the NPHC, not NPC/NIC, although I suppose you could have your own custom made too.

Had to share a story concerning giving the younger siblings a set of your letters--

When I was a sophomore, a senior member of XYZ had a freshman sister. The sister walked into the cafeteria wearing a set of XYZ letters. The XYZs who were in the cafeteria went BALLISTIC. They started shouting at her and asking her who she was, thinking that she could wear those letters. One of the XYZs actually followed her out of the cafe. It was quite the campus scandal for a while (what can I say, it's a small school), and she never wore that shirt again. When rush came around, the freshman did not appear on XYZ's invite list to second party.

That story has always been in the back of my mind when I see younger siblings wearing letters. Even though I've bought my Goddaughter a ton of "A Chi Omega loves me" onesies and tshirts, that will stop when she gets older. I definitely would not buy a set of letters (although I'll be first in line if and when she joins a sorority, especially if it is Chi-O!).

I think my 16 year old sister has worn maybe one or two of my party shirts, but she definitely does NOT have the "I'm going to be an ADPi" mindset.

I don't mind since I would love for her to be an ADPi, but if she joins another GLO in college I'd be fine with that as well.

When I was a province officer, I'd bring back DG party shirts from various schools for my teen-agers to wear - I remember they fought over a shirt featuring Grateful Dead-type bears! No worries about them joining...my chapter no longer existed at either Alabama or Auburn (and one is a boy!). Daughter eventually joined Delta Zeta...she still occasionally wears her DG shirts around (she's been out of school for 2 years now)...I figure it's good PR!;)

Easier said than done when the older sister is still in the chapter! I've been through it when a biological sister of a current collegiate member was cut from recruitment. As would be expected, this lead to the older sister disaffiliating. You can't expect a member to pick your GLO over her biological sister...it would be rare for that to happen.

When I just got initiated, I gave my sister (who was about 11 or 12 at the time) a "Phi Mu Legacy" shirt in her favorite colors (navy on baby blue). It didn't have letters (anyway she's too young to be mistaken for a member) and it clearly stated only what is true.

She's 14 now, she hasn't worn it in forever (although I know she's got it somewhere) and when she did wear it she was very proud of it and learned that a few of her teachers were greek too! I would bet a million dollars that she'd never join my group (and don't really expect her to, she's not the type), but it was nice for us to have that bond to share during that time. She also got most of the party and homecoming shirts we were forced to buy (the boys designed them and they were all tacky and they never ordered enough smalls so we had to take larges!)

I have two other sisters who will be nine shortly, and I totally want to get them something similar because they like to hear the songs and meet my sisters and are curious. I might get something like "My big sis is a Phi Mu!"

So has anyone bought any little boy clothing with their sorority letters on it? I think it's a little weird, but I saw that they do blankets in pink and blue. My sister-in-law is pregnant again (we're all hoping for a girl this time!) and I was eyeing the blankets. Thing is, I don't know whether to get one in my letters or the peanut's (nice nickname huh?) mom's letters. But my sister is an AXiD and it might be more appropriate to get a blanket with a teddy bear on it for a newborn.

But yeah..little boy toddler wearing sorority letters? I'd only do that to my nephew if I could find a 'A Sigma Kappa Loves Me' shirt or something. Now if there is a niece in my future, there will also be a sorority boardbook too :D

Sorority Specialties has a shirt like that.

I had "An Alpha Phi Loves Me" tee and bib for my son. He doesn't fit into them anymore, but I'm thinking of buying some more for him.

I have bought some of those. Note to self: I need to get one for my new god daughter

I won't be dressing my daughter in any "Future Squirrel" gear. I don't think it's fair to her. I'd love to share ritual with a daughter if I have one, but I want her to choose for herself. I also think it's a little presumptuous. Having been through recruitment, I think I'll understand if an Alpha Gam chapter chooses not to have my hypothetical daughter, no matter how amazing she might be. It's cool to have several in the family...I would have liked to be a KD like my mom, aunts, cousins, etc. in a way (there is no chapter at my school so it's neither here nor there) but it's also kind of nice to be different in the family!

I've never liked the "future XYZ" gear for kids.

I had a "KD lady" shirt that I wore when I was little that I'd stolen from my mom. It was the only KD shirt she'd kept. When I was about 13 or 14 she took it away. At the time my feelings were hurt, but now I understand why...she'd told me it would probably hurt my chances with any sorority in the area if their alum saw me wearing the shirt and that it wasn't really appropriate once I was old enough to be considering college and greek life.

I was thinking the same thing the other day! One of my new member class sister is giving birth later this year, and we know it is going to be a boy!

I didn't know how appropriate it would be to get stuff for him that said Theta on it. Of course the dad is in a fraternity, so this makes it a little easier!

If anyone has any other links to cute GLO baby stuff please let me know!

Wow. Now that is really on the XYZ girls. I've seen a girl that, because of her friends, we wouldn't want associated with us wearing our letters before (a party shirt). Made us very mad, but you know what? We stayed classy. That's just really disgusting behavior. The RIGHT way to handle the situation would be to walk up to the girl and ask her if she was a sister (what if she WAS a sister, a transfer from a different chapter that had just chosen not to affiliate?) and if she wasn't, explain to her that it is offensive for her to wear those letters. Most likely she, as a freshman and little sister, didn't understand fully the implications and would simply not wear the shirt again. And no one would look bad, because in that situation it was certainly not she that ended up being in the wrong.

If I had seen that as a freshman I would have dropped them immediately.

For what it's worth, my son had one of the "My Mom's an AOII" bibs and at least one of them had an infant sized "An AOII loves me" tee. My take is if the organization's official merchandise store sells an item then all is well.

Unless, of course, we're talking about the rawhide dog bone AOII had for a while. I love my dogs and my Fraternity, but I don't want my dogs chewing on my letters! :eek:

Those are a lot different from the "Future AOPi" stuff, for instance.

That's funny about the dog bones though.

Several of the the Q's (Omega Psi Phi) here in my area bought there sons camo infants and gold boots. I thought it was hott myself. Lil man fell asleep and his arm formed the hook his pops went crazy.

My sons have all used the "An AOII Loves Me" bib. It is also one of my standard baby gifts for my sorority sisters.

When my boys get bigger, maybe I'll buy them the IIOA tee shirts. I remember seeing a family at Jingle Bell Run once- the Mom had an AOII sweatshirt on and the husband and 14ish son both had on IIOA sweatshirts. I thought that was pretty cool. (but my boys would definitely not be confused as future members- just the future boyfriends/husbands of members!)