MOPS Of Newnan Fall Kick-Off

I did not know how much my life would change when I visited MOPS for the first time, now three years ago.

I’ve been blessed with the freedom of independence from an early age. Encouraging my new two year old to also be independent is what drove me to find a mom group in the first place. Yet he was devastated when I dropped him off, and I was unprepared for that to break my heart when I walked away from his classroom.

I lost it! The tears flowed steadily during my first meeting, and I couldn’t imagine anyone in that fellowship hall wanting to befriend me.

Those are the only details I remember about my first meeting, but I left with so much more than details. I left with a feeling! A feeling that MOPS is a place of acceptance, love, peace, joy, laughter and fun!

Two weeks later, I came back. My boy cried again, but I was confident for him; this was a place he could learn independence, meet friends, accept others and have fun!

Three years later, I’m coming back without him because he just started Kindergarten. I’m a little sad because I started MOPS for us. He’s a little sad because his MOPS friends have become his best, like family.

MOPS has given me so much more than the fun from each meeting! It’s offered me friendships, perspective, understanding and helped me open my heart to opportunities that I wouldn’t have pictured for myself.

When we open our hearts, God has something special waiting for us!

As we get ready to kick-off a new season of MOPS (tomorrow!!!!), ask yourself this question. “What feeling, experiences or opportunities will I miss, if I don’t give MOPS a chance?” If you’re ready, nerves and all, to get connected with a tribe of women who will walk through motherhood with you, then join us tomorrow to kick-off this next season of MOPS of Newnan. (And jump to the bottom of this post for meeting details.)

My experience is just that, my story. We all have one, but I wanted to share a few testimonies from other moms who’ve opened their hearts to MOPS.

“I can meet REAL friends after moving to a new place.”

“We are not alone in this journey called motherhood.”

“Other women are not scary.”

 

And a few from the MOPS Int’l Blog:

“I’ve learned that with God I am never alone … I always have a friend.”

“God is fighting for my self-worth, for my family and for my love.”

“It’s liberating to be able to express that life isn’t all gravy. Being a mom is way harder than I ever thought it would be.”

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Help me shout out to our moms with summer and September birthdays and anniversaries!

May Birthdays:

• Sara Sloderbeck
• Michelle Baumann
• Chelsey Hicks
• Aaron McNeely
• Jessica Whitlock
• Chanel Choitz
• Robin Ervin

June Birthdays:

• Laura Stockman
• Amber Gharapetian
• Keri Davis
• Tiffanie Teel
• Michelle Silence
• Allison Caines

July Birthdays:

• Tori Hansen
• Jaimie Moss
• Ashley VanDenBerg
• Katie Morgan
• Priscilla Coffey
• Elizabeth Gordon

August Birthdays:

• Angela Jarrell
• Angela Dodd
• Cassie Jackson
• Allison Herdic
• Ashley Daigle
• Dori Itzel

September Birthdays:

• Caitlin Marker
• Caitlin Chambers
• Jacqueline Warren
• Kaitlin Wren
• Robin Lea
• Kelly Pringle
• Audrey Tomlinson

May Anniversaries:

• Amee Davison
• Amanda St. Germain
• Caitlin Marker
• Chanel Choitz
• Trish Cappiello
• Allison Herdic
• Angela Dodd
• Maranda Wood
• Tory Leech
• Tori Hansen
• Jessica Whitlock
• Jenn MacKinnon

June Anniversaries:

• Cassie Daigle
• Ashley Watson
• Robin Lea
• Sara Sloderbeck
• Bethany Dickens
• Katie Morgan
• Kristie Kimmel
• Julie Nielsen
• Kelly Pringle
• Karen Slade

July Anniversaries:

• Roxi Magro
• Michelle Baumann
• Kathleen Frederick
• Dori Itzel
• Katie Jeffords
• Shanna Edel
• Robin Ervin

August Anniversaries:

• Angela Jarrell
• Emily Ingold
• Linsey Harper
• Christy Faircloth
• Katie Beese
• Jaimie Moss

September Anniversaries:

• Kelly Presnal
• Andrea Reese
• Julie Wall
• Brooke Wells
• Priscilla Coffey
• Vanessa Erikson

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A few reminders…

We meet at First Baptist Church Newnan, but come to the preschool entrance at 53 Madison Street, Newnan, GA 30263.

We start at 9:30, but MOPS Kids drop-off opens at 9:15, so be on-time and get your extra 15 minutes, since we end at 11:30 and must promptly pick up our kiddos, in order to relieve our Caregivers on-time.

Street Parking is available all over downtown Newnan and surrounding First Baptist Church, but their is also a parking lot across the street from the preschool entrance and  a gravel lot past the building on the left.

Oh, and if you haven’t pre-registered. You might want to STOP! and take care of that right now. Otherwise, it might feel like that early morning in the doctor’s office when they hand you a clipboard full of paperwork, but you have the kids tugging at your clothes and calling you by name 1000x. Avoid that feeling and use this link to pre-register now.

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Pampering Moms Not Babies

The long-awaited, infamous spa day has almost arrived! Tomorrow, we will gather in our normal meeting spot for the first meeting of 2019 for a lot of pampering.

Don’t want to put on makeup? No worries. Come without and leave pampered with a new look by MaryKay.

Need to stretch, relax and mediate on what’s to come in 2019? Wear your yoga gear and bring your yoga mat because Sea Glass Therapy is providing us with two 30-minute yoga sessions to choose from.

Other pampering stations will be offered by some of our own moms, and I’m sure you’ll leave with lots of goodies to be enjoyed at home. Oh! Be sure to take your punchcard to each station to earn your entry for the door prizes which will be given away at the end of our morning together.

Did I mention chair massages are available? Umm, you don’t want to miss this option because we have four great massage therapist scheduled to help pamper you tomorrow. This does require advance sign-up; so, if you haven’t snagged a time-slot, go the our Members Only Facebook Page to schedule yours now!

A list of vendors pampering you instead of your babies this week are:

• Mary Kay (by our very own Amee Davison & Katie Jeffords)
• Rodan & Fields (offered by our very own Meagan Taylor)
• Sea Glass Therapy
• The Skin Society
• Young Living Essential Oils (offered by our very own Angela Dodd, Kala Arrington & Tiffanie Teel)

January Birthdays:

• Brooke Wells
• Julie Nielsen
• Amee Davison
• Megan Terry
• Bethany Dickens
• Kala Arrington
• Karen Slade
• Emily Ingold

January Anniversaries:

• Michelle Silence

MOPS Fall Swap

First, Happy Halloween! If you’re downtown Newnan for the Munchkin Masquerade and see me working at the Library, please say hi!

But you’re probably reading to learn more about out next meeting, so let me get right to it… Clean out your closets and pack up the clothes that no longer fit the people in your house. Clean the playroom & kids’ rooms and bring the toys your kids no longer enjoy. Bring all your unwanted items to the MOPS Swap. Bring as many items as you’d like. Because you’ll have a chance to look through everything the other mothers bring and select items that will work for you and your family. Items your kids will enjoy! You might even find something worth saving to wrap for Christmas!

At the end of swap, unclaimed items will go to New Beginnings Thrift Store to support Women’s Shelters.

Check in is at 9:15, breakfast starts at 9:30 am, and we will have plenty of time to shop before settling in for a little gratitude challenge. Don’t you think it’s time?

It’s simple: If you worry, you give up being happy. This week, we’ll take the Three Good Things Gratitude Challenge and embrace the phrase, “Don’t worry. Be happy!”

And speaking of being happy… be happy with us! If you haven’t committed to us for this season, what are you waiting for? Haven’t you had a great time? We want you to be a part of MOPS of Newnan this year, so stop hesitating and *commit.

*If you have questions about membership dues, click here.

Now for our monthly shout outs! If you’ve got a birthday or anniversary this month – we love you and hope it’s gReAt!

November Birthdays:

Kristie Enne

Meagan Taylor

Julie Taylor

Christy Faircloth

Amanda St. Germain

Kelly Presnal

November Anniversaries:

Dorothy Murray

Elizabeth Thomas

Chelsey Hicks

Megan Terry

Moms’ Night Out with Mentors

Mamas, it has been since July that we hosted a Moms’ Night Out, so we are so happy to share that First Baptist Church of Newnan has planned one for us!

Join us on October 11th from 7-9 pm for Coffee and Cookies at The Warehouse | First Baptist Church Newnan. Our Moms’ Nights Out are best when First Baptist Church of Newnan hosts, so you don’t want to miss! Not only will it be a time for us to mingle with each other, but a chance to meet mentors – moms who have gone before us – who want to serve us in this season.

No matter if you are in the middle of a storm or stepping out into sunshine, we want you to join us. Your story matters to us and the mom next to you; we need you to open up and share your story and your heart, just as it feels today!

We’ve been asked to register for this event (by October 4th), so our gracious hosts can properly prepare. So click here to register now!!

*Please note, childcare is not provided for this event.

Don’t Miss Our First Meeting

Tomorrow morning, we will wake up excited to get ready and haul all of our kids out of bed because WE. GET. TO. BE. TOGETHER. TOMORROW! …and coffee! Because tomorrow is our first meeting.

That’s right, you’ll pull up to 53 Madison Street where you’ll be greeted by other mamas who know exactly why you’ve got spit-up on your shirt and your kids are still in their pjs. You won’t be judged or feel judged.

You’ll check those kids into their classrooms faster than you’ve ever dropped them off with grandma because you know our MOPS Caregivers have been background checked and prepped on our safety guidelines.

The personal escort who helped you get those kids checked in doesn’t walk away yet, but they take you all the way to your “classroom” where the party begins!

Two entire hours for yourself, but not by yourself. You’ll have food and coffee that you don’t have to share, but if we catch you sharing your favorite bites with the mom next to you, it’s okay. Old habits die hard! Just say, “isn’t this the best bite ever?” She’ll get it. We’ll get it.

Conversation. Adult conversation that comes with laughs and relief. Relief that it wasn’t nearly as hard as you thought it would be to come meet new friends who are walking through the same season of life as you. New friends who understand. Who just get it.

And then… you’ll wish you could come everyday, so you’ll count down until the next meeting because you. have. been. hooked!

That’s MOPS of Newnan, and we can’t wait for you to come see us and feel all these feels!

A few reminders…

We meet at First Baptist Church Newnan, but come to the preschool entrance at 53 Madison Street, Newnan, GA 30263.

We start at 9:30, but MOPS Kids drop-off opens at 9:15, so be on-time and get your extra 15 minutes, since we end at 11:30 and must promptly pick up our youngin’s so our Caregivers can also get home to their families.

Street Parking is available all over downtown Newnan and surrounding First Baptist Church, but their is also a parking lot across the street from the preschool entrance and  a gravel lot past the building on the left.

Oh, and if you haven’t pre-registered. You might want to STOP! and take care of that right now. Otherwise, it might feel like that early morning in the doctor’s office when they hand you a clipboard full of paperwork, but you have the kids tugging at your clothes and calling you by name 1000x. Avoid that feeling and use this link.

Oh No! Back To School!

If you’re in my shoes, this isn’t the year for back to school, it’s the year of starting school, but more mamas are in back to school mode than are in my situation, so let’s just talk about this season in general. It’s a mix of emotions for parents and kids alike!

First of all, don’t cry. At least not in front of your little one who’s just starting school. Surely the first few weeks will be different and a roller coaster of emotions for both of you. Excited. Nervous. Maybe even terrified. But if you hold it together, they are more likely to hold it together. You will survive!

As a veteran MOPS, of course, I want to say join our tribe, and we’ll help you get through it because we will. But you’re probably reading this hoping for some back to school tips, so I’m going to highlight seven (7 tips, that is) from the Macroni Kid, but let you jump on over there for the full scoop.

1. Have your little one practice making friends. Hello! Another great reason to join our MOPS tribe. Especially, if your kids are younger than pre-k. You spend a couple days a month with us while you both practice making friends, trusting a teacher and so on and so on!

2. Make sure your child can manage alone in the bathroom. Oh my! I need to listen to this advice because I am a control free.k when it comes to how my kid dresses for public appearances. At home, pshhhhh!, we’re in recycled play clothes because #farmlife, but in public, I want him GQ every day. (Am I allowed to say GQ and kid in the same sentance?)

3. Get them excited about the bus. Ok. Ok. I, of all moms, know this doesn’t apply to everyone. Did you hear me reference “farm life” earlier? We’re driving to Newnan from Luthersville – so there is no bus stop for us. But if you’re considering your bus options, this is probably a good tip.

4. Practice the morning routine. Oh yes! I’m all about the practice. Let’s be honest, it’s more about me than him, anyway. I’m the one who needs the practice because I’ve definitely used these SAHM years as an excuse to sleep. “Sleep when the baby sleeps!” has morphed into the “baby” (pre-k toddler) being my alarm.

5. Print out a list of what to pack for lunch and post it inside your pantry. Sounds smart to me. Noted! But wait. Does that mean there are lunchbox restrictions? How do I know what to put on the list and if it needs to be different than what he’s been eating at home?

6. Lay out clothes the night before. Ah! Smart one. I really like this one because I’ve had those mornings when the sleep isn’t even out of my eye, and I’m staring through it at the closet like I’ve never had to do this before. Que coffee… on a timer!

7. Establish a “landing place” for backpacks, lunchboxes and school papers. I’m sure I’ll appreciate this, if I can clear enough space to designate for it. I mean, mama, if you’re house is still worthy of a magazine shoot, will you come over and help another mama out? I’m living in chaos, but at least we’ve got love!!

All right, now that we’re all armed with some quality tips from a qualified writer, thanks Holly Christy, what are we gonna do to get ourselves through the school year? If I had to send my boy off to pre-k without the support of my tribe, I’d be a disaster. Instead, I’ll be scheduling a lot of coffee dates or walks in the park – ya know, to help me get rid of my mom figure, now that I’ll have a few hours a day to focus on me, and I’m actually looking forward to it.

I’m talking to you, if you don’t have friends with kids in this same season of life (preschool – newborn through kindergarten). You may be armed with friends, but you won’t build your mom tribe, until you arm yourself with mother’s who are living this same season with you. Leaky boob milk on your shirt, a kid with backwards shorts or an inside out shirt, or that might even be you, if we’re being honest. So, stop trying to do it by yourself. Come meet us!

Today, we’ll be at First Avenue Park giving out popsicles and answering all your questions. Come see us and grab some free swag from Monkey Joe’s Newnan, if you can swing on-time-ish. We’d love to meet you and make room for you at our table this year!