Tale of 3 Daughters

[Ocalagirl]

Yeah me too!

[cluelessUGAmom]

Keep going...please! I've had too much "waiting on things" this week!

[FSUMummy]

[quote] Now a word about Daughter #3. There is no other word to describe her except Determined. This is the kid who knows what she wants and makes plans that the Allies in WWII would have be proud of to accomplish it. She always has a goal and a plan. She NEVER goes into anything unprepared or without all the information available at her command. [/quote]

This is my 3rd and youngest to a tee!

[IHPiPrez]

Originally Posted by cluelessUGAmom

Keep going...please! I've had too much "waiting on things" this week!

I know how that is! Hope your daughter finds her Greek Home!

Daughter #3s Story….. Part 2

Fast forward to August 2006. Dad and I are helping Determined move into her dorm room on what had to be the hottest day so far that summer. She is thrilled with her dorm, her roommate, her classes and every other thing having to do with being at college. She and her roommate are already going up and down the hall and introducing themselves. It looks like a great group of girls! I am thrilled for her and once again for ME. She would be starting rush in a couple weeks. I had spent the summer (yet again) securing recs for all the chapters on campus. All summer, while Determined and I shopped for rush outfits, I tried to tell her that she may not want to go into rush with only 2 houses in mind or that she may change her mind once she got to school. Determined just smiles and listens politely. So with tears pouring down my face (I swear I still hate this empty nest thing), Dad and I drive away, leaving Determined to her first few days at college.

Next thing I know, Rush has begun. Determined enjoys the first round, but is still convinced she knows what she wants. She ranks the houses and the next day invites come back. Determined has been invited to the maximum number of houses and most importantly, her 2 pre-selected favorites. The next round is Skits. Determined has a great time. She ranks the houses that night and lists the same top 2. The next day, the news is still good. She’s been invited back to her 2 favorites and 3 more. Her opinion doesn’t change after Philanthropy and House Tours. She is still planning to join either ABC or XYZ. Invitations to pref night come out the next day. I am anxious waiting for her call. I know that if she gets her list and her top 2 are on it, she’ll end up the member of a GLO. The next day, when the call comes, I am ecstatic because there they are! Now all she has to do is attend the pref parties and rank the houses one last time. Unless, something goes VERY wrong, Determined will pledge a sorority in a few days!!!!

Wait a minute, I’ve been here before…….

[IHPiPrez]

[quote=FSUMummy;1502948]

Now a word about Daughter #3. There is no other word to describe her except Determined. This is the kid who knows what she wants and makes plans that the Allies in WWII would have be proud of to accomplish it. She always has a goal and a plan. She NEVER goes into anything unprepared or without all the information available at her command. [/

quote]

This is my 3rd and youngest to a tee!

What is it with kids like this?? I've NEVER been as sure of what I want as she is EVERY day!!!

[kiteflyerzl]

So I get all hooked on this thread this morning and my internet goes out. It's FINALLY back up and I'm reading it. I need MORE! MORE! MORE! Come on, finish the story!

[Katmandu]

I am loving this story. Please Ma'am, may we have some more?

[IHPiPrez]

Daughter #3s Story….. Part 3

Now, just a little of what I was thinking during Determined’s rush. My first fear was: what if she gets cut from BOTH of the houses she wants to join? Will she take the time to consider other options or drop out of rush? Fortunately, that didn’t happen. So my next fear: since we live only a few hours from the University and LOTS of girls from our area rush and join sororities, I had a few preconceived notions of my own. I could see Determined being a member of ABC but not XYZ. Should I discuss this with her? Or should I leave it alone and let her make up her own mind? I chose not to say a word and to HOPE she makes the right choice… or the sorority does!

The morning of pref parties, Determined calls. She is excited to visit the houses that night, but has chosen to only visit ABC and XYZ. She liked the girls she met in the 3rd house, but couldn’t see herself as a member. After the parties she calls and says that even though she was leaning toward ABC all week, she ended up putting XYZ as her top choice. She said she knew she could be happy at either, but XYZ had a slight edge. She felt that this house was a bit stronger and more respected on campus. They had tons of girls that were leaders in campus organizations and to top it off the house was fabulous! So, now there’s only the wait until bids are handed out tomorrow afternoon. I have my doubts but Determined is sure she’s made the right choice.

The next afternoon, I’m almost on the verge of collapse when I get a text message from Determined. “ I’m a proud new member of XYZ!!!” Sure enough, she’s done it. She’s gone through rush and joined her top choice! I am thrilled for her and already planning the gifts that I will send. At last, one of my daughters can do what I wasn’t able to…. stroll across the campus of the “University Red Brick Sidewalks and Towering Oaks” wearing a Greek letter tee!!!

By now, you do know this isn’t the end of the story, don’t you??

[Ocalagirl]

Oh come on!! Horrible part 3...

[IHPiPrez]

And now the rest of the story……

About 3 weeks go by and one afternoon I get a call from Determined. She has something to “tell” me. OH NO!! I’ve heard this before. Sure enough, she announces that she’s decided not to pledge XYZ. Once again I am stunned and speechless. Why won’t these daughters of mine just kill me quickly instead of little by little? So, I manage to croak out “Tell me WHY??” It turns out that in her experience, the sisters of XYZ were not as delightful as she had supposed. First, one sister told her that it while it wasn’t a “rule”, that NONE of their members would EVER date a guy in a certain fraternity. One of Determined’s guy friends from home had just pledged that house, so she was puzzled by the comment. When she asked why… Well, I’ll let you come to your own conclusions since ladies don’t say ANY of the words that would follow. Second, she was being really pushed to do EVERYTHING with either sisters or fellow pledges. By this time she was getting to know and love the girls on her hall and didn’t appreciate being “told” who she could hang with. And the last straw came when she was walking across campus with a close HS girlfriend who was pledging another sorority. The friend was wearing a shirt with her Greek letters. After they parted, a fellow XYZ pledge come up to Determined and said “I’m sure glad I didn’t have to settle for that house. What a bunch of LOSERS.” Determined said that she knew then and there that she had made the wrong choice and went to find the pledge mom to drop. What could I say? On one hand MY dreams of participating in Greek life (albeit vicariously) were at an end. On the other hand, how could I not support Determined in the difficult decision she made? Yes, you and I know that these were just random comments and didn’t reflect the opinions or attitudes of all the XYZs. Determined herself came to this same conclusion later her freshman year and remains friends with some girls in XYZ. But, she doesn’t regret her decision and still maintains it was the right one for her.

Determined will begin her sophomore year at the “University of Red Brick Sidewalks and Towering Oaks” next week. She’s living in the same dorm, on the same hall, with the same roommate. She has joined various campus groups and is studying Biology. She is planning to go to Med school in 3 years. You know what, I believe that she will! Just like her sisters Opinionated and Unpredictable, she has met lifelong sisters some of whom wear tees with Greek letters on them.


A final note……

Even though, none of my daughters ended up going Greek, I still believe and will ALWAYS believe that GLOs are a great way to give service to your school, community and of course to meet lifelong sisters. I think my best friend likes me to tell my tale to PNMs Moms so they will know that while being Greek at a large public University may give your daughter a place and a purpose, these things can also be found outside the Greek system. I like to tell the tale to remind myself that my dreams for my daughters are just that… mine. It’s their dreams for themselves that REALLY matter!

Since Opinionated, Unpredictable and Determined all knew that I wanted some Greek letter tees in the family, they decided to make that dream come true last Christmas. My 3 CRAZY daughters had tees made with the Greek letters of our “family” sorority. They proclaimed that we were the sisters of IHPi or in other words “I Eta Pi”. I suspect they only made me President so I would take charge of baking the pies.

I hope that all PMNs find their Greek homes during Rush this year and that ALL daughters know how much we (their Moms) love and support them.... no matter what!!

[Senusret I]

Cutest.

Story.

Ever!

[Hopeful_Bubbles]

Aww, what a great story! You actually make pies? My stomach is very interested in this I Eta Pi...

[AGDee]

[QUOTE=FSUMummy;1502948]

Now a word about Daughter #3. There is no other word to describe her except Determined. This is the kid who knows what she wants and makes plans that the Allies in WWII would have be proud of to accomplish it. She always has a goal and a plan. She NEVER goes into anything unprepared or without all the information available at her command. [/

quote]

This is my 3rd and youngest to a tee!

This is my daughter as well (my only, and the oldest of two children) and she's only 13.

[Little32]

Mine too. I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[OSU Maman]

You are a fabulous mom and a great role model. Thank you SO much for sharing your story.

I was on the edge of my seat, had tears in my eyes, and was smiling as I read your saga. You have a wonderful writing style. Maybe you should think about writing for $.