On Friday, September 2, 2016 the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group at Calvary Church gathered at Will Park on Morgan Blvd. to welcome new and interested moms.
MOPS is an international support group of women with preschool-aged children. Though the group has “Preschoolers” in the name, Robyn Walsworth, the Assistant to Senior Director of Connections and Special Events Coordinator at Calvary Church, says that the group is open to anyone with children in Preschool or under, including new moms who are still currently pregnant and in need of support.
Walsworth says that she was asked to be a Mentor Mom two years ago when the program started and she enjoys using her past experiences as a mom to help new moms.
“I love talking to younger moms and just trying to share some of my successes and some of my mistakes with them,” said Walsworth. “Not just about parenting, but about being a wife.”
Walsworth’s children are in in high school, but she still learns a lot from the moms in the group. Interacting with members of MOPS often changes her perspective and reminds her of the ideals she used to have in regards to her own children that she may have forgotten about.
“Maybe I was going to be a little relaxed or this or that,” Walsworth said. “They’ll say ‘When my kids are teens I hope to do this’ and I’m like, ‘I hope to do that too!’”
One of her favorite parts about the group is meeting moms, learning from them and being inspired by them. “I just love walking alongside younger women,” she said.
Jen Crane of Calvary Church explained that the group was started to encourage young families at the church to stay connected. Crane was previously a director of a similar group in Texas and remembers how much the group helped and impacted her when she was a young mom.
“Today, we are having all the moms meet here. We have a lot of new moms here and it gives us a chance to welcome them into the group and get to know each of the moms,” said Crane.
Moms from all over NWI come out for the group. There are currently 80 moms with over 100 kids involved in the group with a wait list as well.
Lisa Snyder, a new member, just moved to the area from Minnesota. She has joined the group after having a good experience in a group in Minnesota. Snyder said that she came out today “to meet other women and other moms, to make friends for myself and my children.”
Julia Sheets is also new to the area and heard about the group from her mother-in-law, who recommended it for it’s positivity. She came out today for her first time “to get to know other moms of young children.”
“I think often times young moms, their two biggest fears are that they don’t have enough time and they’re uncomfortable because they don’t know anybody,” Walsworth said. “You always need to make time for yourselves and once you start you’ll really appreciate that time and you’ll grow to look forward to it and want to make time for it.
To find out more about the program and how to join, please call Calvary Church at 219-462-4026 and ask for Robyn Walsworth.