Teen MOPS

I refuse to talk about the weather today. Therefore, I am going to talk about a group that I am a part of. No not the GNO. It is Teen MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). I have 4 regular girls in my group. They either already have a child or are expecting a child. There are many more girls that come to the meetings, but since this is my first year with the group I am really glad that I only have 4 regulars.

I am not sure if many people know that I was a single mom at 20. I turned 21 about a month after my daughter, English, was born. I am so thankful that my mom and Walt were around to help me. They were the ones that went to the hospital with me when I went into labor. They were the ones that went to the hospital with me when English would have asthma attacks. They were the ones that let us live with them for a while. They were also the ones that would tell me that I could do it. I truly have no idea what would have become of us if mom and Walt hadn’t been in the picture.

I didn’t get married…English doesn’t have a father on her birth certificate…it was just English, Bethmom, Waltwee, and I. Thankfully, I met and married Ronnie in 1991 and we have added 3 additional members to our family (Veronica, Hunter, and Cole).

Now that you know my background you may understand a little more why I became part of Teen MOPS. Even though I was 20 when I became a single mom I was still a single mom. I lived the life that these girls are living. Some of them are younger than I was when I became a mom, but I can still relate to what they are going through as a parent. Especially when there isn’t a father in the picture.

This group at CCC (Christ Community Church) really lends support to these girls. They have guest speakers that come in each meeting. One was Child Care Resource Referral (I think I got that right), one was a lady from Mayo that came in and talked about diet and exercise. A Dentist is coming in later in the year to talk about caring for their teeth as well as the teeth of their children. It really is an informative group as well as lending support to the girls.

One thing I really like about this group is that there is no judgment passed onto the girls. Each meeting consists of dinner for the moms and their children, a craft, speaker, and group time. We don’t push religion, but we do emphasize support for them.

At some of the meeting there is a MOP Shop. The girls accumulate points by coming, bringing a friend, and other exercises. Then they get to shop with their points. The shop has diapers, clothes for the moms and the children, personal hygiene products, household items, books, toys, gift certificates to gas, dinner, movies, etc. MOP Shop nights are fun.

Teen MOPS is totally funded by donations and fundraisers. The next fundraiser is a dinner and silent auction. I would like for you to think and pray about supporting Teen MOPS. Here are some ideas on ways to donate to the silent auction:

Paintings
Sewers basket
Take photographs
Scrap booking items
Want to put a basket of goodies together
A bundle of note cards
Jewelry
Babysitting coupons
Baking items
Movie basket
Knitted items (remember it is –40 today)
Quilts
A basket with mugs, cocoa, and marshmallows
Baby themed basket
Tickets to a sporting event
Dinner gift certificates
Tickets to a play
Coffee lovers basket
A basket of new toys
Basket for a gardener
Chocolate lovers basket
Christmas basket
Car care kit
Winter survival kit
Tool kit

Would you please think and pray about putting together something that could be used in the silent auction. A framed photograph or a certificate for a photography session, a basket of lotions from the local store or your home business, a panting, scrapbook supplies, gift certificates for oil changes, car washes, a basket with certificates for a night on the town, a certificate for a night stay at a local hotel...anything that you think someone would bid on….the list could go on and on.

There is another way to help out Teen MOPS. Just donate directly to the group.

If you would like to help support Teen MOPS, please leave me a comment.

Thank you in advance!!