What is MOPS?

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups are communities that strive to meet the needs of every mom with children from birth through kindergarten. MOPS is a non-denominational Christian program. MOPS recognizes that urban, suburban, and rural moms, stay-at-home and working moms, teen, single, and married moms all share a similar desire to be the very best moms they can be. MOPS groups can help!

The MOPS program is built on several foundational principles:

• Community: provides an open, caring, and accepting atmosphere where women can come together to share this important season of life.
• Mentoring: women listen, encourage, and offer information and perspectives gained through experience.
• Practical Instruction: focuses on areas of common interest, offering inspiration and information that is relevant to the life of a mother.
• Leadership Development: groups are organized and run by mothers of preschoolers, as well as for mothers of preschoolers. Women who are involved in MOPS gain confidence in their leadership skills through the training and experience they receive from MOPS.

• Discussion: intimate and accepting atmosphere of a small group offers moms a chance to share their successes, failures, questions, and concerns. It is during these times that a mom realizes that she is not alone, and lifelong friendships are formed.
• Teaching: presented at MOPS meetings celebrate motherhood and meet a mom's unique needs during this season of life.
• Creative Activities: creative projects and presentations, women are encouraged to experience the sense of accomplishment that comes with trying and finishing new things.
• MOPPETS: MOPS meetings, children are cared for in a program called MOPPETS, where they experience love in a preschool-like setting.

• Relevant – Understand the women around you, listen, and offer them the parts of MOPS that relate most to them. Being relevant is about how well we walk in someone else’s shoes, how well we “get” someone by connecting in spite of our differences. MOPS groups are relevant, so that every mom will know that MOPS is for her.
• Relationally Inclusive – Do the faces in your MOPS group look like the faces in your community? That’s the goal—that our groups reflect the variety of moms around us, that we engage to include both moms like us, and make extra efforts to reach out to moms not like us. MOPS groups are relationally inclusive, so that every mom will feel welcome and accepted in the community.
• Growth-Oriented – Think about how MOPS has grown you in every area of your life. We have the opportunity to influence every mom coming through the doors of MOPS. She leaves MOPS a different person than when she entered—ready to face whatever challenges life will bring her way. MOPS groups are growth-oriented, so that every mom will be challenged to grow as a woman, mother and leader.
• Purposeful – Better moms make a better world! That means we have MOPS groups for a purpose. We purposefully work with mothers of preschoolers. We live out our purpose together. MOPS groups are purposeful, so that every mom will know she’s part of God’s bigger purpose, picture and plan.
• Passionately Christian – We lead from our center, which is Christ. Once we have personally experienced his unconditional love and grace in our lives, we are then able to extend this love and grace to others. MOPS groups are passionately Christian, so that every mom (and her family) will be drawn one step closer to Jesus.

What is MOPPETS?

Daytime MOPS Meeting Details

• Who: All mothers of children aged birth to 6 years old
• Where: Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, 8609 Route 47, Yorkville, IL 60560
• When: Typically the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month September through May. (We do work around the Holidays)
• Time: 8:45AM—10:45AM
• What to expect: Moms enjoy a much needed break from everyday life where moms can connect with friends and Jesus. Moms enjoy a wonderful breakfast, hear relevant speakers, work on crafts while their children are lovingly cared for in age appropriate classrooms. Kids enjoy our MOPPETS program where they learn about Jesus’ love and learn to make friends, crafts, play games, and enjoy a snack in a safe, nurturing environment.

Evening MOPS Meeting Details

• Who: All mothers of children aged birth to 6 years old
• Where: Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, 8609 Route 47, Yorkville, IL 60560
• When: Typically the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month September through May. (We do work around the Holidays)
• Time: 7:00PM—9:00PM
• What to expect: Moms enjoy a much needed break from everyday life where moms can connect with friends and Jesus.

2010—2011 MOPS Meeting Schedule

September 23rd
October 7th, 21st
November 4th, 18th
December 2nd, 16th
January 6th, 20th
February 3rd, 17th
March 3rd, 17th
April 7th
May 5th, 19th

**Calendar subject to change

Registration

August 19th, 2010 from 5:00-8:00PM at Cross Lutheran Church & School Food Court

Download the MOPS Registration Form 2010-2011

Membership Dues

We do offer a discount of $5 if you pay in full by August 19th, 2010. Otherwise, you can make payments of $40 by August 19th, 2010 and $25 by January 6th, 2011. Scholarships are available.

As part of your MOPS International Membership, you will receive MomSense Magazine which is a bi-monthly magazine for one year on mothering expertise, parenting tips and fun things to do with your preschoolers. You will also receive weekly Mom-E-Mail messages, a reusable shopping bag, MOPS bumper sticker, a bag tag, and a No Mom Alone 2-in-1 frame magnet. Scholarships are available.

**All checks payable to Cross Lutheran

Recruitment Incentives

• Recruit 1 regular volunteer and receive a $40 credit on your registration.
• Recruit 2 volunteers and receive an entire year’s membership for FREE! That is a $65 savings!

Contact Information

2010-2011 Theme:
The Art & Science of Mothering

Mothering is both art and science. It combines all of who we are to shape healthy, resilient kids. Mothering is so complex it requires both sides of our brain – not to mention our hands and feet, eyes and ears, mouth and (sniff, sniff) unfortunately, sometimes even our noses!

There's the scientific side of mothering where we develop a hypothesis based on certain prin-ciples, test that hypothesis in real-time, consider the results and decide what parts worked and what parts didn't. We keep refining our hypotheses until we find what works for us.

Intertwined with the scientific, mothering requires an artistry that shades with our personality, colors with our unique gifts, and blends past and current experiences.

MOPS International has identified four essential elements for successful outcomes with our kids.

• Core is about knowing and growing ourselves. Understanding and working with our unique temperament, experiences, and emotions in a way that develops resilience. Research clearly shows that a mom with a strong, resilient core is more likely to raise a child with a strong, resilient core.
• Finesse is about honing practical mothering skills—intentionally carrying out our daily re-sponsibilities in ways that encourage growth and resilience in our kids.
• Circle is about building relationships with neighbors, care-givers, extended family and, most importantly, with our husbands or for single moms, with a parenting partner.
• Grandscape is about engaging with God and his unique purpose for our lives. Both secu-lar and Christian research identifies faith in God as an essential element for successful mothering.

Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:10)

Anywhere we go, God sees, knows, and guides. So we can lead — and love — knowing God will get us through all the hard spots, all our decisions, all our roles, all our times we can’t hold open our eyelids and the times we’re bursting with joy. God’s hand guides us as we guide our children. As we study Momology together to become better moms making a better world.

Downloads

• 2010—2011 MOPS Tri-Fold Brochure
• 2010—2011 MOPS One Page Flyer
• 2010—2011 MOPPETS Children's Program Brochure
• 2010-2011 Business Advertising Sponsorship Letter

Related Links

www.childfun.com
Download coloring pages, get craft ideas, or just get linked to other family-friendly sites

www.amazingmoms.com
What a great name for a website! Get craft ideas, recipes you can do with your kids, party ideas, seasonal ideas, and a LOT more.

www.christianmom.com
This is a site just for moms, particularly Christian women. There are links to other mom-sites including some helpful single-mom links. And if you're into iPod they even have Christian Mom Podcast.

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