Jpoy85 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Just felt like sharing and asking for advice. 2yrs ago I started going to MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers). I LOVED it. I loved this specific group. We had to move though and i found a new group and i am still in contact with them and they are still my friends but its on the other side of town now since we moved back to where we started! Anyway....so I thought Id go back to MOPS. L is 4 and I can still attend until shes 5 (this May would be my last month attending). I went today and everyone was still just as wonderful as i remember BUT my kids are 7,6, and 4. They all have pregnant bellies, babies and toddlers. Im the ONLY one in my small group with a child (let alone 3) over 3yrs old. That makes it hard to connect. :( Now I can go to MOMSnext (off shoot of MOPS but for those with school age children) and the closest group meets tomorrow! I am allowed to go to both too. ~~The issue is I just dont know if i should continue with MOPS? The girls loved it (especially L) but I just dont feel the connection like the last time we were there and they were younger (then 2, 3, and 5). Do I even have anything to learn or offer? WWYD? Skip MOPS and go to MOMSnext? Go to MOPS and see what God has in store for me? :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewsDK Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 I love MOPS. I've been to 3 different groups, the second was definitely my favorite. My current group is super tiny - only about 10 women. I don't fit into the groups - I am easily the oldest by several years, and any kids that qualify me are now my foster kids. I go anyway as I like just hanging out with other women. If you are totally not connecting with the women in your group, it certainly doesn't hurt to try MomsNext (since you'd be there next year anyway) or even a more regular bible study. But, if you stick with MOPS, if you do have the oldest kids in your table, you may be able to help them along with the "this too shall pass" and "you will get through this stage" advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munchkins_mama Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 There does come a point when you outgrow the curriculum on MOPS. It becomes hard to connect with others who have much younger kids once yours are older. UNless you are uncomfortable there, I'd keep going because you still get that wonderful two hour break. :) Tomorrow starts my 9th year in MOPS. I spent the last two years as Coordinator and this year I'm back to serve as a DGL. I 'outgrew' it a couple years ago. When I was a new mom, MOPS was a lifesaver to me and now I'm giving back to the young moms who are struggling now. It's a blessing to all. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 Im not uncomfortable, just out of place. Maybe Ill go next month and decide then. That is a good way to look at it though " Youll get through this". :) Who knows maybe I can coax some of them to consider Homeschooling?! :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 Well i talked to my old DGL (discussion group leader) who was in MOPS with me (at this group) and she said that it COULD be that there are no other HSers but that they do have older kids. she recommended I stay and offer advice to the younger moms. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Go to the MOMs group, and see if you like it. It doesn't hurt to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2abcd Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 In the MOPS groups I've been in, it would have been hard to "outgrow" the group. Topics related to our lives as wives, mothers, homemakers... The "mothers" part of it often was geared towards mothers with young ones, but not always. And the topics for wives and homemakers was always fitting (unless you were a single mom). Older homeschooled kids can help with the younger kids. I LOVED MOPS. http://www.mops.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 In the MOPS groups I've been in, it would have been hard to "outgrow" the group. Topics related to our lives as wives, mothers, homemakers... The "mothers" part of it often was geared towards mothers with young ones, but not always. And the topics for wives and homemakers was always fitting (unless you were a single mom). Older homeschooled kids can help with the younger kids. I LOVED MOPS. http://www.mops.org/ This MOPS has topics geared towards toddlers, 2yrs ago they had a few months where it focused on motherhood in general. I think the topics fit the MOPS international theme (this year is Plunge) but the topics each meeting can be different mattering on the groups. Mine requires adults for the child care. Its a paid position that they hire outside of the group & church. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I don't do Bible studies (anymore) but I do know that my need for mom peers slowly decreased as my kids got older. As they aged into all school aged, I had much less need to "connect" with other moms. I would suggest you pick a group and give it time; I'm not sure the one you pick matters so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 I don't do Bible studies (anymore) but I do know that my need for mom peers slowly decreased as my kids got older. As they aged into all school aged, I had much less need to "connect" with other moms. I would suggest you pick a group and give it time; I'm not sure the one you pick matters so much. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I know how you feel I was one of few who had kids in high school but still able to attend mop's. I was in MOP's 15 years. You can actually go until you dd completes kindergarten then you can still attend as a mentor mom. I love moms next. many of the ladies in my group are from my MOP's group. I can't go this year for I am homeschooling and it just does not fit our schedule. Go to which ever one you feel most comfortable. Those young moms would love to hear your opinion as you have btdt although it is nice to be with the moms who have been through the preshool years and are now into school aged. wow, I'm no help.lol...sorry. Go where your heart leads you and where your children are happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted September 14, 2012 Author Share Posted September 14, 2012 Tonight I attended the closest MOMSnext meeting. (i have another group i will see next week). Overall? I felt closer to them only because their children are around the same ages. BUT they seemed to already know each other and i felt like an outsider in that sense. There is ONE other homeschooler of the 12 people who were there. She uses Classical Conversations. It was very laid back and we mostly talked the whole time. There was a speaker (the churches pastor) and she spoke about including God with your children. Id go back though. They seem nice and like it will be a good fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 well trying new MOMSnext group today (Tuesday). I know theres another HSer and shes in my HS group, but I dont know her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Well i went to the next MOMSnext group and I am IN LOVE. There is nothing bad i can say about this group. They opened me with welcome arms and I WILL be going back! They were a bit amazed by my HSing and i felt they were asking legit questions. It felt relaxed but not too relaxed. My kids were the only kids in Child Care, which actually worked out! also one of the people on the Steering Team gave me an idea. What if i went to MOPS and told them about MOMSnext? Then more moms would know about it! I know our MOPs groups dont have anyone to say "hey when you age out, heres XYZ". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBasil Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I'm glad you found a group! Great idea, I'm in MOPs and it's a true blessing, but I've never heard of Momsnext. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Well i went to the next MOMSnext group and I am IN LOVE. There is nothing bad i can say about this group. They opened me with welcome arms and I WILL be going back! They were a bit amazed by my HSing and i felt they were asking legit questions. It felt relaxed but not too relaxed. My kids were the only kids in Child Care, which actually worked out! also one of the people on the Steering Team gave me an idea. What if i went to MOPS and told them about MOMSnext? Then more moms would know about it! I know our MOPs groups dont have anyone to say "hey when you age out, heres XYZ". :party: I loved my MOPS group- it got hard for me when I had a younger child and homeschooled 5th & 1st graders. They were too young to be useful helping, and way too old to be there. There was an evening group, but I was really not connecting with the working (mostly single) moms. Nice ladies, but all we had in common were young kids and evening availability. Wish I knew about MOMSNext way back then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Could you IM me about your Mom's Next group? I'm a MOPS mentor, because I loved the 2 hours away :D And the MOPS group I'm mentoring does a pretty good job keeping the topics on children and mommy friendships, in general. But I would love to be able to connect with moms of kids my age. In fact, I was just thinking about this....I have friends, but I don't have FRIENDS. I don't have anything near a BFF, not that I want a BFF, but something close would be nice. I Most of my friends from my MOPS years are still in the baby stages. Plus, like a PP mentioned, I had my first when I was 38, so I was MUCH older than most of the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I am in my 4th year of MOPs and LOVE it, but this is my last year. My group doesn't provide childcare if you have children above kindergarten, and next year I"ll have a homeschooled 1st grader, so I'll be out. I'm ready, though. I have wonderful friends in there, but most of them are still in the baby stages and we are long past that. I'll be ready to "graduate" in May. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 The leader got back to me and she said they will include it in the newsletter and well discuss it later this year :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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