Initiation Gift
 

My daughter will be initiated in October. Would be appropriate to send her a gift and if so, any suggestions?

Yes gifts are great!!!! If its at a Greek store it would probably make a nice gift--but what about a nice piece of jewelry? I don't know what group she is in, but Herff Jones does jewlery for many sororities (and you can buy online).

It's so nice of you to want to do this-- by all means, yes! Depending on your budget, get her a piece of jewelry -- the sorority has a catalog on their web site. Likely her sorority will give her a drop with the letters to wear with a necklace, but rings, bracelets, etc., would be something she could wear regularly and treasure. :)

Or... if you are not already paying for her dues, you could tell her you are paying all of spring dues, instead of a piece of jewelry. The amount of money will possibly be around the same amount.

Another idea is a chapter guard that matches her badge. You can get them made with all gem stones, for example if she has emeralds on her badge, get her an emerald chapter guard. Not all chapters and sororities do guards, but they were REALLY popular at our school. I think you can get a really nice one for around $90.

Congratulations to your daughter!!

Thanks for all the suggestions. My daughter pledged Pi Beta Phi. I have gone to the National Website and they have a link to their catalog that had some really good ideas. I am think a silver bracelet with a charm. I might do a guard later when I see her pin and if it something she would actually like to have.

Congratulations to your daughter as she becomes a full-fledged Pi Phi! I definitely concur with the idea of jewelry - she can't wear her pin when she's not "dressed up", but a necklace or bracelet would be lovely!

It is so nice of you to want to honor your daughter's initiation into Pi Beta Phi with a gift. It reminds me that mothers and daughters always have a special bond. As a Pi Phi, let me make a suggestion. On the national website, there is a section for jewelry. Assuming that she will be getting a pin, either a plain badge supplied by national or a special order one with jewels, a sorority woman does not always find it convenient to wear her pin as a pin.
Some women have them made into rings. But on Pi Phi's website, there are circular pin holders that convert the arrow pin into a necklace. This is great for those times when you don't want to wear your pin, but would like to wear the pin itself in a different way. I've wanted one since I first saw it, although the occasions when I would wear it at all are severly limited (I'm a 30+ year alumn). Just a suggestion. Your Pi Phi daughter has a special mom!

My mother sent me flowers at initiation. It wasn't as expensive as some of these suggestions, and it meant a lot to me. It would especially nice if they incorporated the sorority's flower. (Carnations I think?)

I did go to the Pi Phi National Website and I decided to order my daughter a silver beaded bracelet with a charm. She loves silver jewelry. Her daddy, being practical, said to get her a sweatshirt. Men!!!!! Maybe for Christmas. I plan to send the bracelet to her Pi Phi Big Sister so she can give it to her at Initiation. Would this be OK?

Fellow Pi Phi mom here! I think what you purchased sounds lovely. :)

Make sure you call her Big Sis so she knows to check for it...you know college students! They don't always check their mail regularly. I think that this is a wonderful idea. It will remind your daughter that you support her even when she's on her own.

Does Pi Phi have a jeweled badge? One of my sisters got a diamond and emerald badge from her mom for initiation. I don't know if Pi Phi has badge options or not, though.

LOL - my high school graduation present was a trip AND either my grandmother's Kappa pin, or an upgraded pin if I dared to choose another sorority. Which should tell you how sure my mother was that I was going Kappa... And, should tell you that I had the nicest pin in my pledge class!

You're doing a wonderful thing, flower3! I've sent things to big sisters for initiation gifts, but was sure to send them certified!

My lil Bro just became a DTD pledge!
I sent him a nice sweatshirt with his letters sewn on.

He loved it! and it was something that was a little more expensive than what he would ever buy for himself.

You're doing a great thing for your daughter!!! Even though my parents aren't Greek themselves, they bought me a Chi-O crest ring for my initiation, tied it to an owl figurine, and shipped it to my big sis in time for initiation. I was amazed they knew so much, and so touched that they knew how important Chi Omega was (and is) to me.

your daughter will love that bracelet. when she wears it she will always think of you and your thoughtfulness.

When my lifelong best friend was initiated Omega Psi Phi, I ordered him a watch from Ebay that came with his name printed on the face in the fraternity colors and with the letters present as well... it was a pretty sweet watch if I say so myself, but that may be more appealing to males.

You really are thoughtful. She's lucky. My folks were dead-set against me pledging, never really showed any interest while I was active, and sure as hell don't understand my alumni contribution now. She's VERY lucky.

I can sympathize. I wish my parents were half as involved as the parents on GC!
All of the children are very lucky to have such involved parents :)

My dad always tells me to "move on" or "get over" my sorority and college years, he really doesn't understand AT ALL. In fact, I have definitely yelled at him a few times, I'd rather him not say anything at all, like my mom.... :(

Your daughter is lucky. When I got initiated, all I got from my mom was an "oh that's nice."

thats so nice that youre sending her something!! it shows how supportive you are of her decisions! definetly call her big first and make sure you certify it. that way shell be looking for it and can call you if it doesnt get there. maybe send it a few weeks in advance so shell definetly have it in time! during one of our last pledge meetings they handed us the chi o creations catalogue (our national store that sells all kinds of chi o goodies!!) and had us all fill out a wish list that they sent to our parents. one of the best ideas that they had in our chapter (no idea if other chapters do this too but they should if they arent!). that way the parents knew what we were interested in getting and could order if they wanted to. i loved opening up chi o stuff at christmas (even though i couldnt wear most of it because it had the crest on it!) and couldnt wait to get back to school and get initiated and wear it all!

I did contact my D's big sister and she is more than willing to help make this a surprise. I hope she will like the bracelet. Thanks everyone for your help.