Does anyone do MoPs?

[Deleted]

I'm thinking about joining my local chapter, mostly for the opportunity to meet new people.

Do you like it? Have you made an friends? What do you do?

[MadamePresident]

My friends do it and love it. I don't, but that is because Nods won't go anywhere without me or a small select group of people.

[6fsn]

I did when in my old town and really enjoyed it. I made some good friends and had a good time, but each group is different. Note that it is faith based if that's not your thing you could also check for a MOMs club. We would have some sort of speaker or video then small group discussions and fellowship.

We have a ministry at our church now so I never searched for another group.

[bcarp30]

I love it. I started last year and am continuing again this year. I joined not knowing anyone but ended up seeing a ton of people I knew from junior league and other moms from DD's preschool so that was really nice. Our mops is pretty small and their goal is to keep it that way which is nice.

It's been really nice to listen to the different speakers and hear from other moms about how they discipline and what they are going through. I've picked up some different ways to parent and ideas for activities that have been really fun.

[mrslisa]

I did it when my older kids were in preschool. I loved it. I am still friends with about 10 women from our group.

[lilac05]

I just sent in my registration stuff. I hope to get more info soon. We have two groups in town, and from what I've been told, they're VERY different. One is huge, the other is smaller, but has more talk of a "popular" group of moms who are very exclusive and not as welcoming if you don't fit their preferred demographic. I chose the big group.

[robyn]

I've looked into it recently, as it's been mentioned a lot in a local Mom's group on Facebook. But the religion part of it kind of scares me off. We are not at all religious, and my super liberal beliefs tend to not be the norm in the area I live in as it is. The group that is most local to me is through a pretty conservative Baptist Church in my area. I just looked up a MOMs group (thanks 6fsn!) so I will see what it's all about. I liked the idea of MoPS because it doesn't seem to cater to SAHM's like just about everything else does (meeting are Thursdays 6:30-8:30), so hopefully the MOMs group is similar. If not, the search continues!

[SJ]

Sept 3, 2015 9:35:09 GMT -5 robyn said:

I've looked into it recently, as it's been mentioned a lot in a local Mom's group on Facebook. But the religion part of it kind of scares me off. We are not at all religious, and my super liberal beliefs tend to not be the norm in the area I live in as it is. The group that is most local to me is through a pretty conservative Baptist Church in my area. I just looked up a MOMs group (thanks 6fsn!) so I will see what it's all about. I liked the idea of MoPS because it doesn't seem to cater to SAHM's like just about everything else does (meeting are Thursdays 6:30-8:30), so hopefully the MOMs group is similar. If not, the search continues!

This so interesting because the MOPS group at our church definitely DOES cater to SAHM's (meetings are Friday mornings)

I am sort of involved and attend when I can, but I work FT so it's hard. I do monthly dinners out and such, and attend meetings when it works out with my schedule.

[Deleted]

robyn - the MOMS group in my area only caters to SAHMs, so thats why I wanted to try out MoPs. I know every chapter is different, regarding how religious based it is. I figure as long as they aren't trying to get me to attend church, I can handle it.

Thanks, all! I'm glad so many people have had good experiences!

[Deleted]

Sept 3, 2015 9:38:31 GMT -5 SJ said:

Sept 3, 2015 9:35:09 GMT -5 robyn said:

I've looked into it recently, as it's been mentioned a lot in a local Mom's group on Facebook. But the religion part of it kind of scares me off. We are not at all religious, and my super liberal beliefs tend to not be the norm in the area I live in as it is. The group that is most local to me is through a pretty conservative Baptist Church in my area. I just looked up a MOMs group (thanks 6fsn!) so I will see what it's all about. I liked the idea of MoPS because it doesn't seem to cater to SAHM's like just about everything else does (meeting are Thursdays 6:30-8:30), so hopefully the MOMs group is similar. If not, the search continues!

This so interesting because the MOPS group at our church definitely DOES cater to SAHM's (meetings are Friday mornings)

I am sort of involved and attend when I can, but I work FT so it's hard. I do monthly dinners out and such, and attend meetings when it works out with my schedule.

My local one meets on Mondays, but they have two sessions. One from 9:30-11:30am with childcare available, and then 6:30-8:30pm (no childcare available). I'm relieved that there's SOMETHING that caters to working moms. 

[robyn]

Sept 3, 2015 9:38:31 GMT -5 SJ said:

Sept 3, 2015 9:35:09 GMT -5 robyn said:

I've looked into it recently, as it's been mentioned a lot in a local Mom's group on Facebook. But the religion part of it kind of scares me off. We are not at all religious, and my super liberal beliefs tend to not be the norm in the area I live in as it is. The group that is most local to me is through a pretty conservative Baptist Church in my area. I just looked up a MOMs group (thanks 6fsn!) so I will see what it's all about. I liked the idea of MoPS because it doesn't seem to cater to SAHM's like just about everything else does (meeting are Thursdays 6:30-8:30), so hopefully the MOMs group is similar. If not, the search continues!

This so interesting because the MOPS group at our church definitely DOES cater to SAHM's (meetings are Friday mornings)

I am sort of involved and attend when I can, but I work FT so it's hard. I do monthly dinners out and such, and attend meetings when it works out with my schedule.

They offer two meeting times, a Thursday AM meeting and a Thursday PM meeting. There are ten groups that pop up when I put my zip code into their website, and two offer evening meetings so it definitely doesn't seem to be the norm unfortunately. All the rest are a weekday morning.

[robyn]

Sept 3, 2015 9:41:35 GMT -5 @roseyposey said:

robyn - the MOMS group in my area only caters to SAHMs, so thats why I wanted to try out MoPs. I know every chapter is different, regarding how religious based it is. I figure as long as they aren't trying to get me to attend church, I can handle it.

Thanks, all! I'm glad so many people have had good experiences!

Ah, bummer. Oh well. I will have to look more into the MoPS near me then.

[Deleted]

Sept 3, 2015 9:46:09 GMT -5 robyn said:

Sept 3, 2015 9:41:35 GMT -5 @roseyposey said:

robyn - the MOMS group in my area only caters to SAHMs, so thats why I wanted to try out MoPs. I know every chapter is different, regarding how religious based it is. I figure as long as they aren't trying to get me to attend church, I can handle it.

Thanks, all! I'm glad so many people have had good experiences!

Ah, bummer. Oh well. I will have to look more into the MoPS near me then.

yours could be different! the FB and webpage for my local one literally says "offering daytime support through playgroups, field trips..." etc. So it was a big turn off for me. 

[thebreakfastclub]

I think the experience varies by location. The religious focus varies, so depending on your interest, that would make a huge difference. Where I live, this is a 100% SAHM activity.

[robyn]

Sept 3, 2015 9:49:16 GMT -5 @roseyposey said:

Sept 3, 2015 9:46:09 GMT -5 robyn said:

yours could be different! the FB and webpage for my local one literally says "offering daytime support through playgroups, field trips..." etc. So it was a big turn off for me. 

Total turn off. I can't find a website for mine, but I found them on Meetup so I sent a request. I'll see what comes of it. Let us know what you think after you go to a meeting, I'm interested to hear!

[Deleted]

I went twice. Got kicked out. LOL.

Mine was a bit religious but in the Jesus loves us all sense, nothing too awful/intimidating.
I was just over mine because it was full of Moms who struggled to get dressed and get their ONE kid to a 10am meeting.
And I was expecting to have coffee and chat about things while the kids played and it turned into, "OH. I so need MOPS. It's my only outing of the week. I can only talk about my kids and how hard my life is with kids!"

It was weird. And depressing. And just not me at all.

[luv2rn4fun]

I went to the last 3 meetings last year and loved it. We have our first meeting next tues and unless I can find someone to watch C will have to miss (it's right in the middle of nap time). I highly recommend it! Our's does cater to SAHMs too with only 1 meeting mid morning on weekdays.

[CrazyLucky]

I think it depends on your group. I did it for one year. It was based at a church, which doesn't bother me. I didn't feel like I got much out of it. Maybe I was too much of an outsider because it seemed like everyone already knew each other. But then I learned one of their affiliations is Focus on the Family, and I dropped out. I don't take as many stands as I ought to on principle, and this was an easy one. I sent a note that said why I quit and got a very nice note in return, but regardless, I don't want anything to do with those jerks (FotF, not MoPs).

ETA: My group met at night.  When they divided into discussion groups, it was SAHMs in one group and working moms in the other.  It was not presented and I didn't perceive it as us vs. them.  It just made sense because some of the challenges are so different.
Also, they had paid childcare.

[robyn]

Ugh @this that's exactly what I'm afraid of. Off to do some more research.

[robyn]

Sept 3, 2015 10:30:37 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

I think it depends on your group. I did it for one year. It was based at a church, which doesn't bother me. I didn't feel like I got much out of it. Maybe I was too much of an outsider because it seemed like everyone already knew each other. But then I learned one of their affiliations is Focus on the Family, and I dropped out. I don't take as many stands as I ought to on principle, and this was an easy one. I sent a note that said why I quit and got a very nice note in return, but regardless, I don't want anything to do with those jerks (FotF, not MoPs).

ETA: My group met at night.  When they divided into discussion groups, it was SAHMs in one group and working moms in the other.  It was not presented and I didn't perceive it as us vs. them.  It just made sense because some of the challenges are so different.
Also, they had paid childcare.

Do you know if MoPS in general is affiliated with FotF, or just your local chapter was? Cause that alone could save me so much time researching today and allow me to do more online window shopping instead!

[Deleted]

Woah @this - that's insane and ridiculous! The MoPs one I'm looking to join is at a church, but doesn't mention a word of God/Jesus/anything at all.

I'd run for the hills if I came across any of the ones in your area.

[Deleted]

Dammit. I just read their international core ministry values, and its all about marriage and sex being between a man and a woman, and @#abstinence!

Someone please tell me that the actual local chapters (in normal, non-bible-belt places) do NOT even go near these things?

[robyn]

Ugh, I"m out. Way too much WTF for me. Even if the local group isn't as sucky as the national org is, I can't voluntarily give my time and money to an org that clearly goes against pretty much all of my values and beliefs.

[amaranth]

Sept 3, 2015 10:51:08 GMT -5 @roseyposey said:

Dammit. I just read their international core ministry values, and its all about marriage and sex being between a man and a woman, and @#abstinence!

Someone please tell me that the actual local chapters (in normal, non-bible-belt places) do NOT even go near these things?

My group has several moms who either aren't in relationships or are living with a partner unmarried. No one seems to care, and heavy issues (like gay marriage amd abortion) have never come up. We also don't do bible lessons. It's mostly a chit chat and motivational time with paid childcare.

Today I went to a church group to compare and it was a lot more Jesus centered.

[Deleted]

Sept 3, 2015 10:51:08 GMT -5 @roseyposey said:

Dammit. I just read their international core ministry values, and its all about marriage and sex being between a man and a woman, and @#abstinence!

Someone please tell me that the actual local chapters (in normal, non-bible-belt places) do NOT even go near these things?

I will say as much as I didn't like my chapter, it wasn't because of the religion. That part was pretty tame. There was an opening prayer and a bit of a focus on God's children but it was nothing overly weird or extreme or preachy. More like "Jesus loves all the children and he appreciates your role as a good parent because you are!" 

Our lectures/speeches were never religious and mainly on things like ugly decorating, stupid pinterest crafts, people's childbirth stories (IF, diseases, NICU stays blah blah. Inspiring stuff) and crockpot meals. 

[CrazyLucky]

Sept 3, 2015 10:37:34 GMT -5 robyn said:

Sept 3, 2015 10:30:37 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

I think it depends on your group. I did it for one year. It was based at a church, which doesn't bother me. I didn't feel like I got much out of it. Maybe I was too much of an outsider because it seemed like everyone already knew each other. But then I learned one of their affiliations is Focus on the Family, and I dropped out. I don't take as many stands as I ought to on principle, and this was an easy one. I sent a note that said why I quit and got a very nice note in return, but regardless, I don't want anything to do with those jerks (FotF, not MoPs).

ETA: My group met at night.  When they divided into discussion groups, it was SAHMs in one group and working moms in the other.  It was not presented and I didn't perceive it as us vs. them.  It just made sense because some of the challenges are so different.
Also, they had paid childcare.

Do you know if MoPS in general is affiliated with FotF, or just your local chapter was? Cause that alone could save me so much time researching today and allow me to do more online window shopping instead!

It's MoPs in general.  That was four years ago, so they may have changed.

ETA: Looks like they're still involved: www.mops.org/focus