Real House Moms of OSU
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Student Life

Real House Moms of OSU

Mom Terry or "Mom Tizzle" (for those of you who know her personally) knows how to turn up and keep her Pi Phi girls entertained.

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Real House Moms of OSU

Let me start by saying Mom Terry kept me laughing the whole time with her playful, witty heart. And if you ask her girls, that's what she wants their house to be: happy, positive and fun. Mom T loves catching up with the Pi Phi's relationships' and graduation plans, and finding a common ground in that they ate too much at dinner. The struggle of living in-house is real! Don't worry, when I said Mom T knows how to turn up, I was not referring to being crazy wild. But, she has seen some crazy, wild stuff while being a house mom.

Things you should ask Mom T if you get the privilege to meet her:

  • "How do you walk 6 miles every day with other house moms and not die of over-exercising?!" (You already know if I have to walk to North Classroom, I'll be getting a ride back)
  • "Why do the girls of Pi Phi like to confuse you by calling the old wing addition of the house the 'new wing' when its been around for 20 years?" (Mom T thinks you keep expanding the house)
  • "How did you feel when you found a urn full of someones ashes during the remodel?" (She can't decide if it was vacuum cleaner's contents used as a prank)
  • "How did you manage to write a book while being a house mom and previously being a high school English teacher? And when is it getting published?!" (I need a copy of that goodness)

Mom T has even seen crazy things when she was a student here. Have you ever heard of "Streaker Nights" on The Strip? Yeah didn't think so. When Mom T was a student here, every year before spring break, people would fill the strip and part the center for streakers. Anyone who wanted to run or ride their bike would have their moment of fame between the crowds of people. She told me that there used to be a huge fake cow where The Barn is, and one streaker would be pushed on the cow, all the way back to Theta Pond, where they were dumped into the water with the cow! Unfortunately rules have tightened up since then and we only have stories from "Mom Tizzle" (one of her preferred names).

Mom T also had some fun at a rival game against that other school in Oklahoma. It was tradition to ring Old Central's bell when OSU dominated OU in football. So, after one victory, while they were in Norman, they had to break into the gated-off bell to ring it for tradition's sake. Unfortunately she and her friends were caught by a campus policeman who threatened to arrest them all if they didn't get back to Stillwater quickly. 

Speaking of ringing bells, before Mom T was the house mom of Pi Phi, during dinner the old house mom would ring a bell when she was ready for the next course of the meal. One dinner, a girl decided to stuff the bell with food so that it wouldn't ring. Let's just say that the old house mom didn't think it was nearly as funny as Mom T did. She is actually a fan of pranks. Her best one? She was sick of all of the girls asking her if she was dating someone week after week, so she finally made up her own love story to shut them up.

"His name is Hank," she told me. "I told the girls he worked on a farm and he doesn't have much opportunity to come visit."

Lucky for her, Mom T gets flowers, cards and candy each year from "Hank" for special occasions. Maybe he should step up the gifts this year and buy her something nice!

While talking with Mom T, I was informed of a very serious incident where baby Jesus was missing from their Nativity scene. Do not be alarmed, Mom T went into full survival mode with an epic Facebook post I MUST share: "The Amber Alert is cancelled: Jesus was returned tonight at 9:53 p.m. A young man gave it to a girl to return but would not confess to the crime or show his face. But Jesus knows him. Jesus is safe and sound under the watchful eyes of the three wise men and Mary."

Mom T really loves to keep the house fun and high-spirited. She enjoys surprising the girls with things like rapping during the last party of house tour day for her introduction. Or how about when girls come to her in hopes that she will re-stitch something of theirs with her master sewing skills and she surprises them with letting them do it themselves. Tough love will take you places, and since you can't take Mom T with you after college, it's best you learn from her while you're here! 

Along with learning from her, there are some things that Mom T likes for her girls to know and understand about her, like her faith. She is a Christian and loves opportunities when she gets to bring up Christ in and through conversations. She wanted to leave something with her girls for some extra encouragement this year: "Remember that your problems are temporary, and when you get older and look back, you will realize that your problems were never really problems after all."

Oh, and, "Yes we have a lovely tanning deck and all, but get out of the sun, it's damaging!" Spoken like a true mom.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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