Somewhere along the way, this thread has taken on an additional topic. As I stated earlier before, the thread is about whether or not we would recommend going through initation while pregnant. I replied later on that there is no rule prohibiting it. There have been women, as seen on this board, who have gone through MIP while pregnant. Others, like me, feel as though they should wait.
For some reason, the "morality" or "image" issue entered the picture along the way. Yes, I too, know of some older sorors (heck, I know lots of older non-greek women) who look down on unwed mothers, even some who are much younger. That is how it was back in the day. "Susie" would go off to care for her ill "Aunt Jane" for several months, etc.
But times have changed. Even if people are not accepting of it, they are displaying more tolerance than in those times. I have a cousin who became pregnant her sophomore year in college in the early 80's, but did not return to school. Just about everyone knows someone who is either a relative or a friend who might be an unwed single mother. After graduation, one of my own line sisters became pregnant and is not with her child's father or married. That does not mean I think any less of her or my cousin.
It is a fact that many people are having sex without the benefit of marriage. However, if I had become pregnant and was still able to attend school, I would not have gone through with it. Reflecting back on the entire experience I know that my body would not have been able to handle it while pregnant, and that would not have been fair to my line sisters, me, or my baby.
However, as I and others pointed out earlier, if a woman feels as though she is able to handle the stress and thinks her unborn child will not be harmed, then by all means she should pursue her goal.
My number one goal at that point would be to find every way possible to ensure that my baby entered this world as healthy as possible because that would be my first
priority. If I had waited that long, I could wait a bit longer. The sorority isn't going anywhere.
All I want to say is that this is simply a personal issue. It is up to the individual to choose, but I would encourage her to not just think about what she wants, but the others that she could possibly effect in the long run. Yes, mothers do juggle lots of different tasks, but with a newborn, school, and maybe a job she needs to realize that the sorority demands just as much time. Other than money, family and job responsibilities are two often quoted reasons for frat/sorority members who become inactive.
In closing, I would like to add that I admire the women who are able to do it because it is no small task.
I'm sorry for the long post.
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