Welcome to MOPS and MOPS NEXT at First Federated Church!

MOPS/MOPS NEXT stands for Mothers of Preschoolers and into the next step -- Elementary school. We exist to meet the needs of every mom -- moms with different lifestyles who all share a similar desire to be the very best moms they can be! MOPS/MOPS NEXT recognizes that the years of infancy through kindergarten are foundational in a mother-child relationship and are filled with unique needs. MOPS/MOPS NEXT helps moms through relationships estabilished in the context of local groups that provide a caring atmosphere for today's mother of young children. Come join us at Federated to begin your quest to be the mom God intended you to be!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Play Date THIS WEEK

ATTENTION all moms:

It is time to get out of the house and have another fun MOPS play date!!

Join us on Tuesday, November 1 at 10 AM
at the Jordan Creek Play Place
for lots of fun for the kids and the mommies!

Hope you can make it... invite a friend to join us as well!

Come when you can and leave when you must!

Safety Questions?

If you have safety questions or concerns that we raised at our last meeting with Brandi, please feel free to email her. Here is her contact information:

Brandi Thompson
thompsB3@ihs.org


Also, I have the two Power Point presentations that she showed if anyone would like to see them -- I heard that some may want to see the presentation of the recalled toys.

Let me know!


Sunday, October 23, 2011

Child Safety

We hope to see you all on Tuesday Morning for our next MOPS meeting! We will be hearing from Brandi Thompson of IHS about Child Safety issues (a topic that you requested from last years' survey), then we will be making BOO-BOO Baggies with Feed Corn!

You won't want to miss it!

Don't you think you deserve some mommy time? Come to MOPS to enjoy a great time with great friends and great food!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Magnify!!

Check out the details about FFC's Christmas event for women:


MAGNIFY!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Hilton Garden Inn – 8600 Northpark Drive, Johnston

6:30 – 7:00 p.m. – Flexible Arrival
(Reserve your table/seat, munch and chat)

7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Program (Hors d’oeuvres & Dessert)

$20 per person


www.firstfederated.org




Monday, October 10, 2011

Freezer Cooking



Don't miss our next meeting... TOMORROW MORNING OR EVENING... where we will be learning about Freezer Cooking. We will even be making a meal to take home with us and getting a cookbook with several recipes to try out at home!



Bring a freezer-safe 9x9 dish to put your meal in!



INVITE A FRIEND!!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Courageous



It is not too late to plan a date night with your man for this weekend! I have heard GREAT things about the movie Courageous... check it out! It is great for all parents to see.... My husband even cried in it!



Hope you can check it out then let us all know what you thought!




Wednesday, October 5, 2011

8 Ways to Be a Better Mom to Young Children








1. Make your relationship with the Lord your number one priority. If you’re too busy for God, you’re just plain too busy. Make time for the most important things. You won’t regret it.


2. Get a consistent routine in place. Make your routine simple (maybe even just five or seven things you want to do in the same order every day), write it out, and make yourself stick with it for three weeks. After that, you’ll probably find it’s become somewhat of a habit. Don’t set your expectations too high. If you’ve never had a consistent routine, you’re not going to go from chaos to a regimented schedule in two days. Start small, take baby steps, and make loving and enjoying your children your priority — far above a clean home or strict schedule.


3. Read aloud from a plethora of good books. Look at the pictures together. Talk about the stories. Stop and listen and answer your children’s questions. It’s not about finishing the book; it’s about investing in your children’s lives.


4. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Ask yourself, “What will matter 25 years from now?” and then live your life accordingly.


5. Take advantage of teaching opportunities. It’s amazing the things you can learn and explore together when you’re willing to stop what you’re doing and seize a teachable moment.


6. Praise your children liberally. Do you correct or criticize your children more than you praise them? As parents, it’s our role to guide and nurture our children, but that doesn’t mean we can’t also be their biggest cheerleader!


7. Realize that no mom — however put together she might look — is anywhere near perfect. Stop comparing. Stop feeling guilty. Focus on what works for your family and be okay with the fact that you aren’t gifted in all areas.


8. Don’t give up. Being a mom is hard, hard work. If you’re anything like me, you have days when you feel like you just can’t do it anymore. And I’ve come to learn that I can’t, in and of my own strength. But “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”