Moms take time out for fun, learning

Kim Dietrich and Michelle Jacob, facing, visit with Roseann Johnson and Michelle Merritt at a MOPS breakfast before beginning their program.

Michelle Merritt has two children in high school. She still regularly takes part in the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) at the Ferris Christian Church.

“I value having friendships with people who have common interests,” Merritt said, as moms and kids gathered for a regular meeting recently. Merritt has two preschoolers and two elementary school aged children, as well as those in high school. She was one of the organizers of the MOPS group sponsored by the Ferris church in 2006. She is discussion team leader.

As part of a national organization, the MOPS group meets two times a month, on the second and fourth Fridays from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. With child care provided, the mom's adapt a schedule of lessons recommended by the national group by using local presenters, many times those within their own group.

“The theme this year is the home,” explained Jenni Little of LaHarpe, the mom of two pre-schoolers, who helps with publicity.

“The MOPS theme for the year is ‘The Home Factor.' In one meeting a month, we take a room and expand on that,” Little said. For example, when dining room was the theme, Rachel Martens gave ideas for making family mealtime count. When the focus was on the home office, Kim Dietrich talked with the group about organizing family finances. Even the bathroom (mom's hideout) shared ideas for staying joyful in mothering.

Other meetings may include a video, a project, or a fundraising activity. More important than the program is the fellowship of these moms get from sharing time and experiences with others.

“The biggest thing I got out of MOPS is knowing that the things I face, I am not alone,” said Roseann Johnson who is the MOPS coordinator this year.

The morning starts with the kids being ushered down to the church nursery while the moms visit and prepare a carry-in breakfast. After a lot of talk and sharing they get down to the business of the program for that day.

The children are entertained by the older children of Melissa Printy of Carthage. As a homeschooling mom, Printy uses these sessions as a time for her children to learn through preparing lessons and activities for the preschoolers.

“When I just had Evan and Will, I went to a MOPS group. It is a way to give back and help this group more forward,” Printy said. “We do the teaching together, the crafts and games. We have been studying creation with the children.”

Diana McClintock is mentor for MOPS and enjoys association with these younger moms even while her children are grown.

“It gives me a good feeling about the young families to see that they are holding on to what is important,” she said. She and Merritt have some experience to share, and say they are always learning plenty from the younger moms.

The first MOPS meeting took place in February 1973 in Wheat Ridge, Colo. For two hours, while their children received care, these mothers talked, laughed, ate, passed a basket for childcare expenses, had a craft demonstration and ended with a short devotional.

From the beginning, women in MOPS were not spectators. Through MOPS, they cultivate their leadership gifts. As women moved around the country, they took the concept of MOPS with them, and new groups formed. Inquiries and requests for information became more frequent, and a handbook was printed. Office space moved from a desk in a family room to a rented office.

In 1981, MOPS established a board of directors and incorporated first as MOPS Outreach, and later as MOPS, Inc. The board created a charter and hired Elisa Morgan as the first president of the organization in 1989.

The MOPS MOMSense newsletter (now MOMSense magazine) began in 1993. In 1995, MOPS formed a partnership with Zondervan Publishing House, further expanding its outreach through books. The local group has a quarterly newsletter.

To learn more, contact Johnson, 217/357-0825 or any of the members mentioned.