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When I joined a sorority my freshman year of college, I never thought it would help me prepare for motherhood. Much to my surprise, sorority life and mom life are very similar on so many levels.

1. There are T-shirts and loot FOR EVERYTHING 

Case in point: Every time we held an event at our sorority, there was a T-shirt or some commemorative item for it. Recruitment, “bid day,” philanthropies, social events, you name it. Same thing with kids. There is a onesie for “my first Valentine’s Day,” a bib for “my first haircut,” a diaper cover for “my first day at the beach.” And of course you have to take pictures, which brings me to my next point…

1st new year

2. You take pictures… of EVERYTHING

And not just one picture — you have to take 10 to make sure one is perfect. And just one camera won’t do. You throw your iPhone, Canon Rebel, whatever you have out there. And so does everyone else in the picture.

3. You learn to get ready in five minutes flat

I shared a house with 50 girls. Yes, 50 women in one house. Needless to say, primping time in the bathroom was a luxury. Fast forward 10 years, and nothing has changed. My daughter is using my bronzer brush to clean the toilet and my son is leaping off the counter into the tub like Superman. I have my routine down to a very quick science.

4. Singing and cheering

During recruitment we had catchy cheers we would chant while potential newbies walked into our chapter house. There were choreographed dance moves. There was clapping. The whole nine yards. We had songs we sang during meetings, ritual events, etc. With children, you find yourself cheering for everything. First time eating solids! First steps! And nevermind potty training — we break into an all-out riot after a successful trip to the toilet. Same thing for singing. We have to sing to my daughter during every diaper change to distract her, no matter the location. (Yes, I am the creep singing in the Nordstrom bathroom. Oh well.) You do whatever it takes!

5. Event planning

My sorority planned the largest, most successful philanthropy on campus (ah-hem). This took tons of work and ridiculous attention to detail. Did you know it takes hours to make one of those silly balloon arches? Well let me tell you, they look much easier to build than they are. So when it was time to celebrate J’s first birthday, everything seemed like a walk in the park after planning some of those college events. And I’ll save you the suspense: I did not repeat the balloon arch.

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6. Sisterhood

I joined my sorority to meet new people and make friends, and those women became a second family to me. No matter the circumstances, my sisters had my back through thick and thin. I have been lucky enough to meet a group of mothers about whom I feel the same way. Knowing they have both my best interests at heart and will stop my son from jumping off the top of the jungle gym while I am tending to my daughter also helps.

These days, I may not have my mommy letters emblazoned across my chest (although my diaper bag and minivan make it crystal clear), but I certainly wear them with pride.