MOPS MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Megan Nesvig MOPS Coordinator megancnesvig@gmail.com

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. —1 Thessalonians 5:11

I have the incredible privilege to be a part of an amazing group of women at VPC: Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). During the school year I look forward to meeting every other Friday to learn about the successes and challenges faced by our community of moms. I'm so blessed by how God is at work at VPC through MOPS; I wanted to let you know what the program means to me, and to show you what MOPS means to other moms in our group.

Connection. Connection with other women is a common theme among our members. MOPS is designed to encourage relationships with other women in similar stages of life. As moms, we make daily sacrifices for our children, and connection with other women is often one of the first comforts we push aside. Motherhood can be overwhelming, exhausting, and chaotic, but it is also joyful, beautiful, and of full of love! MOPS fosters connections through the many candid discussions we have about parenting, marriage, health, and self-care. We connect by sharing a knowing smile, lending a listening ear, or simply nodding along to stories of similar experiences.

Validation & Growth. Members express that they feel validated when they attend, and that participation in MOPS leads to growth as mothers, wives, women, and friends. At every MOPS we listen to a speaker or participate in an activity, and engage in discussions about parenting, relationships, and God. Navigating this season of life can be challenging but being part of a community of other women who fiercely love their children and want to grow themselves is extremely validating.

Support & Encouragement. MOPS moms indicate that their participation in MOPS makes them feel supported and encouraged. MOPS builds communities of women who support each other through the journey of motherhood. Research shows that mothers who feel supported tend to feel less anxiety, depression, stress, and loneliness, and instead feel more satisfied and fulfilled. We are often told that “it takes a village” to raise children, but where do we find that village and these villagers? MOPS has a collection of villagers just waiting to provide support, care, and compassion to other women.

Whether you are searching for a village or you are already surrounded by a large group of villagers, I hope you will join us this Fall and say yes to stronger connections and more fun! This year will focus on hands-on activities and community service, giving us great opportunities to talk and connect on a deep level. We will kick off the year on Friday, September 8, with a giant playdate with our kiddos, complete with activities and crafts! I hope you will join us.

Everyone wants to feel connected, validated, supported, and encouraged. We support and encourage one another, we build each other up. Take it from our MOPS moms and their experience with our village – this is a fantastic place to grow and learn with others while maneuvering the obstacles and celebrating the joys presented in this season of life! Here are some thoughts from MOPS moms we collected this spring:

What makes MOPS important to you?

Being a mom of young kids is really isolating. Having a space to connect with other moms, take a breath, have a conversation that a toddler doesn’t interrupt, and have a cup of coffee that a baby doesn’t spill all over your shirt is invaluable...having time to chat with other women in the same stage of life fills my cup and helps me pour into my kids with more patience and gratitude.

MOPS is important to me because it gives me a sense of community that was missing... Getting to connect with other moms makes me feel less alone in the journey of motherhood.

I love having a dedicated, child-free time to connect with other moms and learn about various topics that are important to me.

MOPS is important to me because it is my chance to connect, distraction free, while learning from experts who help me further grow as a mom, wife, woman, and friend.

MOPS is a place where you connect to other moms who are in a similar season of life and feel like you are not alone. It’s a place to get some great ideas and perspectives from those a little further along in the parenting journey.

How has MOPS changed the way you parent?

Speakers provide tangible parenting resources and helpful advice, and sharing my triumphs and struggles allows me to give myself more grace as a parent. Sometimes it feels like you’re alone in your struggles with behavior, consistency, patience, and gratitude; to know that other moms wrestle with those same issues is validating and freeing.

MOPS has changed the way I parent by making me confident— I know I’m not alone or the only one dealing with the struggles. Also, it recharges me. Getting to carve out two hours (almost) every other week just for me to have girl time refuels me inside so I can give more to my family later.

One of the most powerful sessions I attended that changed the way I parent was Parenting on Purpose with Amy Carney. I learned SO much about being intentional with my parenting.

It’s been an encouragement to try some new ideas and a lot of what has been talked about I am tucking away for later.

What has been your favorite part about MOPS this year?

I love the little moments—the few minutes I get to chat with mamas before and after the speaker. It’s so rare that we get these opportunities without scheduling a date night, and they truly refreshen my soul in immeasurable ways. I’ve also really love when the speaker allows us to ask questions and chat. It’s so hard to get personalized, candid, high-quality parenting advice, and I relish when I can pick the speakers’ brains.

My favorite part of MOPS this year is the group we have. Everyone is so genuine that we’ve been able to connect and share in ways we haven’t previous years.

I have loved the variety of speakers: from flower arrangements to the importance of a will to how to parent without fear - there has been so much learning!

Place to meet moms in the same season of life and make new friends/connections.

Explain a time that MOPS or the MOPS community helped you spiritually or emotionally.

The other mamas at MOPS help me emotionally in both big and small ways. They’ve listened when I’ve shared openly about struggles with parenting and my marriage. They lifted me up and helped me to feel less alone. To be honest, sometimes when I see a speaker listed, I think to myself, “Great… another session where someone is going to make me feel even worse as a parent and make me feel like I need to be more intentional than I’m already struggling to be.” But each time I’ve thought that, the speaker has surprised me by offering non-judgmental advice, sharing their own struggles, recognizing moms’ daily efforts, lifting my spirits both emotionally and spiritually, and giving me hands-on tools that don’t feel overwhelming.

That would be my very first MOPS meeting!! (SEVEN years ago). The whole meeting was about hearing stories from moms who had “graduated” from MOPS and the impact the group had on them. At the time I didn’t have mom friends and I felt alone, after hearing one story I knew I had found a tribe and was no longer alone on the journey of motherhood.

As a mother, you sometimes think all the struggles you have are only experienced by you. It can feel lonely. MOPS has allowed me to connect with other moms, who are experiencing the same struggles, and we laugh and cry together and ultimately try to grow as a person.

Helped me not feel alone in this new season. Helped with new ideas/insights into parenting.

What would you tell someone considering getting involved in MOPS?

I would say that I know it might feel overwhelming to get up and ready, get yourself dressed, and drag yourself to a social gathering in the morning—I understand and relate to that. But when you’re feeling isolated and exhausted, instead of driving home to be by yourself for a few minutes of solitude before preschool ends (which I know feels like what you really WANT), do what you really NEED and come to MOPS. You’ll be surrounded by people that know exactly what season of life you’re in, and they’re ready to love on you, hand you some coffee, offer you some snacks, and share in the struggles of having young kids.

Just go to a meeting. Don’t be intimidated because everyone there is/was in your shoes too!

Try it! It’s always free to come check it out for the first time, the topics are amazing, and the group of women is top notch! AND the childcare is fabulous.

What do you have to lose?! If your children are not in school, your child(ren) are cared for in a wonderful nursery with loving adults. So while your child(ren) is safe, you get to have a whole two hours to socialize and learn with like-minded women. We all love our children and family and just want to be the best version of ourselves that we can be.

DO IT! Definitely worth the value. Offers connections, wisdom, solidarity, ideas, self-care, and new friends.