Tips on Tuesday: Get Connected

In your life as a mom, have you ever felt disconnected or alone? Well, I found a place almost 12 years ago that helped me when I felt this way. I found a MOPS Group.

MOPS stands for "Mothers of PreSchoolers" and we define preschool as any age from birth through kindergarten. At a MOPS meeting, you have food (hooray), fellowship, a talk from a speaker or the mentor mom (an older and more experienced mom who has been there, done that), time to discuss the topic of the day and usually a simple craft.

I wasn't sure I'd really enjoy MOPS when I first went to a meeting. I was in some other clubs geared at moms and didn't really think I needed more. However, there's just something about a MOPS group that speaks to my heart. I love having a Mentor Mom so I can bounce ideas and questions off of somebody who already walked a mile in my shoes. The fellowship can't be beat and I made some dear friends through my participation. Since Rebekah heads to preschool this fall, I'm looking at the last three years of my MOPS career. I know by the time she finishes kindergarten it will be time for me to move on. However, I'm filled with sadness that my time is ending so soon. MOPS has been a central part of my life for the last 11 1/2 years. If you are in the MOPS Season of life, I hope you'll go to MOPS International's website and find a group near you.

Would you like to find a MOPS group? Click here and you can search by zip code, city, or country if you live outside of the United States. It's an International organization with mothers all over the world coming together to nurture and support each other.

Below is the logo for this year's theme, "Together on Planet Mom". The theme is based on the idea that we live on earth and have friends and a life. Then we go to the hospital to give birth (or go to the place where we meet our adopted baby) and suddenly find ourselves transported to a new place--Planet Mom. It's a place where the natives don't speak our language and we have to learn what they need and how to live with and raise them.

I hope you'll consider joining us as we learn what life is like "Together on Planet Mom."