Alums and Their Children

[RoseNWhiteLion]

Hey All,

I was wondering what the alums do with or for their chldren, if anything to tell them about their Greek life? Do you engourage them to go Greek? TO go your house specifically? Did you get them legacy things when they were babies or children?

Just curious!

~Allie~

[dzandiloo]

We have talked about Greek life with our kids since they were old enough to understand words! As far as they know, being Greek is a natural part of college, like living in the dorm or going to football games (and going to class... of course!).

Of course, I will not force them to go Greek, but they will know all about it when the time comes. My daughter has a few articles of clothing--in fact today she is wearing a lovely pink shirt with green script embroidery that says "Delta Zeta Legacy" on it. Whenever one of my sisters has a baby girl, I give them a bib or some other keepsake that says something similar. My sis-in-law is a Tri-Delt, and I suspect she would like to give Anna some things with dolphins, etc., but I think she is afraid of stepping on my toes--on the contrary, I think it would be great! Because as much as I want Anna to be a DZ, I want her to know that it is her choice, and the more exposure she has to different organizations, the better!

My son has never had any LXA (his Dad & one uncle are LXAs) or ATO (2 uncles) paraphrenalia, but he knows what it is when he sees it.

Edited, because punctuation is good.

[AGDee]

Every lullaby that I sang to my daughter was an AGD song until she reached the age of 1. I think it will work subliminally.. she'll be at an AGD house during Pref and feel warm, safe, secure and will have no idea why! She sees my continued involvement now and asks me a lot of questions about being in a sorority.

Right now, at the ripe old age of 9, she very much wants to be an AGD. I'm sure she'll get a little more rebellious or have less desire to be like Mom as she gets older. I'll support if she wants to go through Recruitment and I'll support her if she doesn't. I'll support her if she chooses a different GLO too. But, I really really really really really really really really really really would love for her to be an Alpha Gam!

Dee

[DeltAlum]

My kids know I'm a Delt. Their grandmother (mothers side) is an ADPi, so all are legacies.

If they had questions, I answered them honestly. I did not attempt to influence them in any way.

Of the two who went to/are attending college, neither chose to join a fraternity or sorority. The oldest is in a Greek Letter academic honorary.

[Tom Earp]

There is nothing wrong at all about telling your kinders what Greek Life is about!

While I do not have Children, I consider ALL of the Guys at my Chapter as surrogates some what!

Legacys have been shown two times on GC, one the Younger Foos at UG and PDT, and by justamom whose son was a 4 legacy young man.

One went with his legacy when he did not get a Bid, Boo On SN for that and one who went LXA on his own.

The important thing to me, is at least they went Greek!

Legacys do not gauarntee a bid. Each Indivdual has different thoughts than a Brother, Father or Grandfather. Each Chapter is differrent!

I tell every young person who comes into the Store, I hope you look at and go LXA, but if not right, at least think strongly about becoming a Greek!

[aephi alum]

No kids here (yet) but I'm planning on talking to them about what greek life is all about and how being in a sorority has benefited me. If they then decide it's not for them, I'll be disappointed but I'll respect their decision. Same goes for my hypothetical future daughter if she joins a sorority other than AEPhi - if she's happy in another GLO, I'll be happy for her.

Oh, I like the lullaby idea. We have a couple of pref songs that would make great lullabies

[carnation]

I've known far too many legacies who were cut by their mom's or sister's sorority to fall into the trap of only talking about Pi Phi. I taught the kids Pi Phi songs, I wear my letters--but we talk about GREEK around here.

[Tom Earp]

CARNATION, Carnation!

PM me to let me know of situation at S C. No new Updates!

[AOIIalum]

I have three sons, and my husband is not Greek by his choice. I've talked about my sorority involvement and the boys have watched (and when appropriate, participated!) along with me. Heck, I was pregnant with my youngest while a Chapter Adviser and he came along with me to functions until he outgrew the confinement of a baby carrier.

I also sang AOII songs as lullabies, they wore "My Mom's an AOII" tees when younger, and I hope when the time comes each of them considers Fraternity Membership. We've got about 5 more years before I'll start the "Carnation Nation Consider Fraternity Life Program"

I have a niece who's a sophomore in High School. I have toddler photos of her tucked in my bed with one of my AOII sweatshirts, surrounded by pandas. I've told her ever since she was a child that if she went to college, I'd pay for her sorority membership. I truly don't know if she'll be attending college, but if she does I'll hold true to my promise no matter which sorority she joins (but oh how I'll want her to be an AOII!)

[pinkyphimu]

Originally posted by AOIIalum


I have a niece who's a sophomore in High School. I have toddler photos of her tucked in my bed with one of my AOII sweatshirts, surrounded by pandas. I've told her ever since she was a child that if she went to college, I'd pay for her sorority membership. I truly don't know if she'll be attending college, but if she does I'll hold true to my promise no matter which sorority she joins (but oh how I'll want her to be an AOII!)

what a great aunt you are!!!!

[Rio_Kohitsuji]

Even though I'm not Greek or an alumni of anything but high school, I have influenced my 12 year old neice

Let me put it this way, she knows her Greek letters backwards and forwards, and asks me all the time about fraternities and sororities Heh..a lot of influence from me and TKE209 has hit her hard I've already told her that wherever she attends (she has her eyes on Duke) that she should at least rush. So, she's ready.

Oh, DZ's..she's fallen in love with you. The turtles got her!!

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Hahahahahaha...... how much I love the subliminal lullabye! How delightfully sneaky!

Great thread, by the way, to Miss Allie.....

I'm going to say, and try so hard, to influence my kids to rush. I feel like you can't truly know you *don't* like Greek Life until you get a taste of it, and realize there's sister/brotherhood in there along with all the stereotypes. So I'm going to say I'll encourage and support my daughter if she rushes and decides to go GDI, or local, or panhellenic.

BUT OH IF SHE'S A PHI MU.....

[Munchkin03]

I have no children, but my niece looks up to me as if I'm her sister. I've never really pushed AXO, but she likes the idea of Greek Life (her mom's an AKA) and talks about how she's going to join my chapter. She has had nothing but positive exposure to Greek Life, which is all any of us can ask for. I've asked my sister about whether or not she wants her to go AKA--for both of us, sorority life is more important than the letter, and GDI is just fine.

As for me, I can't imagine any little Munchkins wanting to go Greek, especially if Mr Munch is their father. If anything, the factors that encouraged me to go Greek won't be there for them.

[MeLikey]

When I have children, I can't wait to tell them about Greek Life! My parents weren't Greek and I had never really thought about Greek Life until some of my friends pledged. Then I couldn't wait to be a part of it! Of course it would be great if my daughter(s) were Delta Gammas but I wouldn't try and influence them to go that way... I'd just promote Greek Life to them.

dzandiloo, that "Delta Zeta Legacy" shirt sounds cute!

[AXO_MOM_3]

I sing Alpha Chi songs to my girls too! When I was a recruitment advisor I took them to a few bid days. I have told them about why Alpha Chi is so important to me, and that one day I hope they will join a greek organization when they go to college.