Group offers moms time away from kids

All moms need a break.

Whether they are stay-at-home mothers, part-time employees or full-time employees -- they all need a break.

Luckily, a newer organization in town, can provide mothers with the well-deserved rest they need.

Mothers of Preschoolers, an organization fairly new to this area, is not new to the country or the world for that matter.

According to the website http://www.mops.org, the first MOPS meeting took place in February of 1973 in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Only eight women attended this meeting, but the purpose was fulfilled. For two hours, these eight mothers talked, laughed, discussed motherhood issues, read a short devotional and ate. The mother's paid for their children to receive childcare during this time.

This format may have started in the 70s, but it still remains the same today.

On the first and third Thursday of the month from 9:30-11:30 a.m., the local MOPS meet in Green River at the Hilltop Baptist Church, located at 405 Faith Drive.

Much like the first meeting, the mothers gather to eat, read a devotional or inspiring poem, make a craft or listen to a guest speaker. While the mothers are being socially and physically fed, the children are being watching in the nursery room at the church.

According to mops.org, "MOPS International encourages and equips moms of young children to realize their potential as mothers, women and leaders, in relationship with Jesus, and in partnership with the local church."

Even though the group meets at Hilltop Baptist Church, it is open to all denominations.

During a recent meeting, co-coordinator Hannah Lucero read a poem about how quickly children grow up, which is something all mothers are told when they have a little baby.

Some mothers got tears in their eyes as they were already going through some of the things mentioned in the poem.

The mothers then ate breakfast while chatting about each other's children and any problems they were having. Next, they played a game. Each person was asked to take out two pieces of paper; read what was on the paper and decide which item they would do. This ice-breaker game really got the ladies at each table to start discussions.

"It works out good," new member Megan Roybal said. "I'm a beautician downtown so I schedule around it at work."

Roybal's favorite part is being able to socialize with other moms.

"It's nice to be able to have mom time because we don't get that very much," Roybal said. "Plus, they usually have speakers or crafts."

Roybal has a three-year-old daughter; and although she has only been attending for about a month, she is happy this organization is doing so well after being formed about a year ago.

Lucero said when the program was created there were only six to eight people, but it has since grown to 15 to 22 regulars. A couple of founding members knew about MOPS from other states they lived in. They decided to start a group in Sweetwater County, if one wasn't already in existence.

"It's been harder to grow it here, people here just don't know what it is," Lucero said.

Although MOPS is for those with children birth to five years old, this group has moms come that have older children. The need is still the same -- socializing and supporting other moms.

"My kids are all old," Lina Gerke said.

She has a 13-year-old daughter, a 10-year-old son and a five-year-old boy.

"He calls it his second school," Gerke said about her youngest.

Gerke's favorite part is meeting new moms and making friendships. She said as an implant to the community, it is hard to make friends, but this is one way to do that.

"You get to have breakfast and actually get to eat it," Lucero joked.

Those who are mothers know where Lucero is coming from. Once children are in the picture it's almost like a mother never gets a warm meal or things vanish from her plate before she has a chance to eat it.

When MOPS is not hosting monthly meetings, the group is finding ways to keep the group socializing such as hosting bunco games and picnics. The group is also trying to line up some park play dates in the summer, but they understand this is usually when families are busy with vacations and other activities.

"I like the crafts because I don't have to mess up my house," Shanelle Monreal, MOPS co-coordinator, said.

At this particular meeting, the attendees learned how to decorate kitchen towels with paint and fruit. They cut lemons and apples in half, painted them and then placed them on the towel. Once the pieces of fruit were lifted up, a decorative imprint was left behind. This made a decorative towel to hang in the kitchen. This is just one of the many crafts the group has done over the classes.