Sometimes you just want to talk to someone who has been in your shoes. Someone who might know what it's like when those expensive shoes are covered in baby spit-up, or when your barefeet meet a LEGO in the middle of the night
The idea behind Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) is that mothers of young children need to connect with each other, and a local chapter of the international organization recently formed in Winnemucca.
MOPS is not a playgroup for the children. It is more for the mothers to connect with each other, said Holly Lozano, one of the co-leaders of the Winnemucca chapter.
Lozano has two older children - a preschooler and a child on the way - and moved to Winnemucca a couple of years ago. With her older kids, she found it very easy to meet other parents through school, sports and other activies. However, now that she's back in baby mode, she finds she misses having the support of other mothers with like-aged children.
"It's a support group for moms," said Lozano. MOPS provides an agenda for each meeting and a facilitator will guide the group on topics such as "Being You Bravely" or the women will watch a video.
"It's 20 to 30 minutes of instruction," said Lozano, and then the moms talk or will maybe do a craft project. She said MOPS is a faith-based organization but it's not a Bible-study group. Instead, the meeting topics are guided by Biblical principles but they do not delve into Scripture.
The group in Winnemucca has held one meeting and about five women attended. Lozano is hoping to get more participants and the group is open to any women with children from 0 to preschool-age. The women who attended the first meeting were a mixture of at-home moms and working moms.
"Some moms feel isolated and they're feeling overwhelmed. It's nice to visit with other moms in similar situations because you see that other moms are going through it too," said Lozano. "It's 'Oh, I'm normal.'"
While there are other moms' groups in Winnemucca, Lozano said MOPS provides a more structured meeting and is not just for the kids to get together and play.
"It's just fun to relate to other moms," said Lozano but it's also a way to be involved and provide something for others in the community.
According to the MOPS website, the group began with eight women in Wheat Ridge, Colo., in 1973. The women met, talked and laughed, and ate and did crafts while others watched the kids. The organization now has about 3,900 MOPS groups across the country and around the world. MOPS also has a blog entitled "Hello, Darling" which provides tips and articles on motherhood.
Lozano said Zion Lutheran Church is the host church for the group. The church provides space and childcare while the moms get together.
The MOPS meet every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at Zion Lutheran Church, located 3205 North Highland Drive, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Their next meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 23.
For more information on how to join the MOPS group in Winnemucca, email wmcamops@gmail.com. For more information on the MOPS organization, visit MOPS.org.[[In-content Ad]]
