Wisdom Panel

At Monday's meeting we welcomed a panel of veteran moms* willing to share their expertise with us! My hand was cramping trying to write it all down for you-- there was so much wisdom at that table. So forgive me for anything that gets left out, but I want to record some of the thoughts that were shared with us in case our mommy brains need some help.

• Don't listen to the parenting "noise". Trust your instincts. You know what's best for your family. 
• Enjoy your kids! Let the rest go. 
• No one cares if your house is messy. 
• Actually, some people might, but people who compete with you (about your house, your clothes, your kids) don't need to be your friend.
• Build a network of supportive people in your life. 
• Invite people over even if your house is messy!
• Every minute of a kid's birthday party doesn't need to be filled with activities! 
• One tip for reigning in Christmas excess: Santa gets his Christmas magic from Jesus, so 3 wise men = 3 gifts. 
• As they get older (later elementary school age), keep them involved in activities-- sports, music lessons, drama--whatever they enjoy-- but the activities will keep them away from negative distractions.
• Remove yourself from toxic friends. Ain't nobody got time for that. 
• Embrace the differences in your children. Resist the urge to compare them to each other. 
• Make your husband feel special, too! He needs affection as much as the children do. 
• Work as a team with your husband. This requires calm communication. 
• Have family or date nights in!
• As you move out of preschool, it's very important to KNOW THEIR FRIENDS. 
• Social media is especially fraught, whether you allow your kids to have it or not. The bottom line is to stay aware of what they're doing online. 
• Connect your children with social issues early! 
• Be wary of travel sports leagues and year-round sports before middle school. Encourage your children to try a variety of activities before choosing what they truly enjoy. 

What did you think? What was our experts' best advice? Add your thoughts in the comments section on our facebook page. All of these thoughts are open to conversation! 


*Special thanks to the members of our Wisdom Panel! Pictured L-R from top: Teri Gonzalez, Cheryl Virta, Shannon Graham, Beth Rasche, and Meg Commander.

Boxes & Jars

Monday's meeting had us all looking ahead to the upcoming holiday season!

First, Mentor Mom Jan reminded us to keep it simple this holiday season. She shared with us a homemade gift that she received last year to demonstrate that often the most treasured gifts are not the most expensive or elaborate.

In our small groups, we packed shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Each group was to pack two boxes, but several groups had enough gifts to pack extra boxes, so thank you all for your generosity!

We packed 11 boxes total. Outreach Coordinator Simmons Skinner will mail them and track them so we will know in which country they eventually end up!

We also took some time to prepare our own families for the holidays by making Advent jars. We wrote 25 Christmas activities or scriptures on red and green craft sticks and put them into decorated jars. Hopefully this will help to point our little ones toward the true meaning of the Christmas season.

Our next meeting is Monday, November 25th, the Monday before Thanksgiving. I hope you all can make it, but if you're traveling or unable to come, have a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy this time with your family!

CPR IS NO JOKE

So a mouse walks into a bar. 

No. That's not the one. Let me start again. 

Q: How does a mouse resuscitate his friend? 

A: By giving him mouse to mouse! 

*****

Josh Bowman, Aquatics Director at Yates Family YMCA, was our guest speaker today. He had some great information on general safety and first aid, and then he did some demonstrations of infant and adult CPR and choking procedures for children and adults. 

His handouts had some great information, so be sure to pick one up at the next meeting or ask Lucy if you weren't there today.

Joking aside, this blog post, or even what we learned at the meeting, cannot replace real CPR and first aid training, but I do want to highlight some of the tips we discussed today. 

Also, if your baby looks like this, you have bigger problems than we can solve here. :)

Sorry- back to the tips. 

First we talked about safety and first aid. 

*In addition to baby proofing, make sure your babysitters are aware of potential hazards in your home. You may know the danger your child is capable of getting into, but unfamiliar caretakers may not. 

*Keep all cleaning supplies locked and out of reach. A new danger you might not be aware of is the small detergent packets, both for dishwashers and laundry. They are small and candy-like, but very toxic. 

*A number to know: 1-800-222-1222/ Poison Control.

*Have a safety plan, and make sure your children know the plan. How will we get out in case of fire? Where will we meet up in case of natural disaster? 

*Make sure caretakers also know the plan. 

*If you come up with a way to share that with a sitter that doesn't make you sound totally crazy, please share with the group. 

Then we talked about CPR. This is what you need to know.

We also talked about choking, which is particularly a problem with small children. 

Rule #1: When giving back blows, do not break your child.

Or just do this:

*Do not attempt to remove an obstruction unless you can clearly see it. 

*If a woman is visibly pregnant, use chest thrusts instead of belly thrusts. 

*If the victim is able to cough or cry, encourage them to cough but do not intervene. 

We also talked about water safety and the need to always have a designated person watching children in the water, even in places where there is a lifeguard. Swim lessons are highly recommended.

And there you have it! If you have further questions, Josh Bowman can be reached via email at jbowman@firstcoastymca.org. 

MomCon 2013

Each year, MOPS International has a conference, also known as MomCon. This weekend, three of us flew out to Kansas City, Missouri to represent our group and soak up some momma love and great information. We joined 3,500 moms, just like us from all over the world! Our flight was delayed on Thursday but we rushed just in time to catch Kathi Lipp teaching us to get organized. We had time to explore a bit and found a great Mexican place for dinner. We raced back (up hill) for the opening session with Elisa Morgan and Ken Davis. There was lots of nodding in agreement, chuckles and tears as we heard Elisa's 'beautiful mess' of motherhood. I got a full night of sleep (HUGE for me) and we hit the ground running enjoying the cool, MO weather! The first session was with Beth Moore and Alexandra Kuykendall (author of this year's theme book, The Artist's Daughter). We met up with our fellow FL pals during lunch and hit up the Marketplace (tried to win a Kindle). That afternoon we split up for our position sessions: mentor, coordinator and finance. It was nice to meet other leaders in our positions and exchange ideas! Later I went to a session on 25 Ways to Significantly Cut Your Grocery Bill. Here are a few links I picked up from that session: Buy in bulk, Use a crockpot, order groceries online, make your own cleaners and don't throw out leftovers. After a great session with Lysa Terkeurst we hopped in a cab to check out the #1 BBQ place in Kansas City, Oklahoma Joe's.

Waiting in line to fill our bellies with yummy BBQ!

We came back and checked out the 'late night activity', Theater Off the Cuff, an improve group. They were okay. We dipped out early for more sleep! Saturday's morning session blew us all away! Jen Hatmaker gave an amazing talk about owning up to your parenting. It's one thing to tell your kids to live the right away, but what really works is showing them. Wow. Amazing woman! Afterwards we were able to meet her and thank her for her message.

 

We split up again to cover the afternoon workshops: More Momma, Less Drama, No Ordinary Marriage, Searching for What And Who Defines Me,  and my favorite, What's Draining Your Energy (Do, Delegate, Dump, Detach and Discern to eliminate energy drainers in your life). One last session from Kathi Lipp

 

and we went back to get ready for the Mom Prom! Think circa 1973 (MOPS 40th Anniversary), dinner and dancing! Awesome!

Some of us slept in on Sunday and flew back to the home front. Let me tell you, it was tough getting away. There was really a TEAM of people who helped take care of my life here so I could dip out. And it was totally worth it! I feel refreshed and rejuvenated...and my husband will get over it by the end of the week :-) 

 

Cleaning Up Our Mess

This morning's meeting topic was Stain Removal and Simple Sewing Repair. When I first became a "stay at home mom" I was eager to spend more time with my precious baby...but not so excited to do all the other household chores full time. I'm guilty of throwing away a cute dress because it was stained beyond repair. Then, Joy told us about Biz. She says to make a paste with water and put it on the stain and let it sit for 24 hours, then wash as normal.

I'm hoping these banana stains from 2 kids ago come out. I'll keep you posted! Joy said to repeat this process until the stain comes out. We also learned about Fels-Naptha, glycerin, WD-40, hydrogen peroxide and a whole hand out of useful tips for dryer sheets, color catchers, etc. Courtney gave us a recipe for

Laundry Detergent
4lb box borax
4lb box baking soda
4lb box super washing soda
2 or 3 bars of Fels naptha soap - grated (I use 3)...
1 or 2 of the 8oz tubs of Oxiclean (I use 2)
Purex crystals (optional)

Grate the soap with a cheese grater. Pour some of the borax or other powders into a blender with the grated soap. Blend until powdery. Mix all ingredients into a 5 gallon bucket or something similar. DO THIS OUTSIDE. You might be choking on powder if not. Use 1 tablespoon for a small load or 2 tablespoons for a large load. Makes 640 loads for $20-$30 depending on if you use the extra soap and oxiclean. Purex crystals are an extra $6. Target has most ingredients down the laundry aisle. The soap can be found at Publix or Winn Dixie.

Then, Jan gave us some simple sewing tips. We learned about stitch witchery to fix a hem. Peel n Stick patches for tears or even to cover a mess up. We learned about double threading a needle and using grey thread for most things...or to match a thread color when doing detailed work by hand. We also received a lesson on cotton quality and proper ironing.

Hopefully the lessons I learned this morning will help to build some cleanliness confidence or at least save a dress or two!

 

Making Art with Children

Note: This is Suz Wedekind. I'll be posting re-caps of our meetings on a regular basis, starting today. So when you read "I" here, that's me. :) 
Also, I forget things often. So if you take pictures at a meeting that you'd like to share (like, from today, perhaps?) please forward them on to me and I would be glad to post them.

I don't know about y'all, but I quit doing art at home around the time that my second child, my precious little terrorist Bo, turned 1. This was because every surface in my house then became his canvas. Every small craft item became his snack. Every small, cleanish (because who are we kidding?) corner of my dining room became his target for mayhem.

But according to our guest speaker today, Kelly Paterno from Riverside Arts Center, children need a place to be messy, especially in the early developmental years.  Even children's scribbling represents their first "art" and is probably representing more that's going on in their brains than you think.  They are learning cause and effect, for example, then later on, symbolism.

For those of you whose children don't seem like budding Picassos, Kelly reminded us that there are all different ways to be creative. Movement, music, drama, fashion and cooking are all forms of creativity.

We also did some simple art projects this morning that would be fun with kids.

#1 Crayon Resist: Use a white crayon (or any crayon, but white makes it more like magic) to draw a design on heavy cardstock. Then paint over the design with tempera paint. Voila!

#2 Paint with toys: Use any toy with an unusual texture (think cars with grooved wheels, squishies, loofahs, sponges, etc.) to paint on paper.

#3 Paint with food: Kelly used the example of spaghetti. Boil some spaghetti noodles and let them cool, then dip a handful in paint. Drag across paper to make a design. This also works with things found in nature: leaves, sticks, pine needles.

#4 Cloud Dough and Oobleck: Cloud Dough is 8 cups of flour to 1 cup baby oil. Once mixed together, it makes a moldable dough that also smells very nice. It's helpful to put this mixture into some sort of container, like a baking tin or a tupperware container so that it stays in one place.

Or if you have a child like Bo, maybe just take it outside for playing. 

Oobleck uses a ratio of 1 cup cornstarch to 1/2 cup water and a few drops of food coloring if your heart desires (although Kelly recommends adding the food coloring to the water before mixing with the cornstarch).  The result is a gooey mixture that drips from your hands but feels solid to the touch.

I have to admit the oobleck was really neat. And since it just washes off with water, maybe it's even Bo proof.

Maybe.

Our Year Has Begun!

We're diving into our new theme of "A Beautiful Mess"! I know I was very ready for the MOPS year to begin. We kicked off a new year with an Open House for all the new moms to get a 'lay of the land' last week. It was great to meet everyone and be able to show moms where the nurseries will be as well as fun facts about St. Mark's. Our first meeting was on Monday. We played two "messy" ice breakers. The first was a yarn toss at each table. The second was a group game of giant Jenga. It was such a blessing to spend my Monday morning laughing and playing with my MOPs mom pals!

Ready for a new year!

We just had our summer leadership retreat! We're so excited to get back together in a new MOPS year. We have some great meetings planned. This week we'll kick off our year with a girls night at Chrissy's house. Later this month we have a family trip to Ichetucknee Springs. Just a few weeks left of summertime...whew! Where does the time go?

Planning, planning, planning for a fabulous MOPS year!

Abigail and Lucy assigning responsibilities!

MOPS Marketplace

We're hosting a vendor fair on Saturday, June 22nd from 10am-4pm in the St. Mark's Commons Building. Join us for our first ever MOPS Marketplace benefiting our MOPS members who are going to convention this year! We always fundraise for convention so that any of our moms who would like to go are able to without it being a financial burden. We're extremely pleased with the support we've received from other local vendors who will be joining us at the MOPS Marketplace. Admission is free and there will be lunch available for purchase as well. Please tell your friends and join us for a fabulous day of shopping! 

Here's a partial list of the vendors you can expect to see on the 22nd:

• Jump N Jax Consignment Sales
• Jennifer Mendoza Photography
• Pursewna 
• First Coast Fluff
• Trinkets N Accessories
• South Hill Designs
• Paparazzi Accessories
• Classic Chic Boutique
• Scentsy
• Thirty-One
• Dixieland Delights Candle Co
• Simply Sara's
• and more to come soon!!!

Registration is Closed!

Ephesians 2:10 (New Living Translation)

For we are God’s masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

I am loving the MOPS Int. theme for next year. What mom of a preschooler doesn't feel like her life is a mess at some point or another (probably everyday!) St. Mark's MOPS hopes you'll join us next year in learning how to embrace the beauty in your mess. Registration is open for next year. Most of you know, our nurseries fill up fast so we require a $45 registration fee to hold your spot. We will update the blog when our group is full and starting to add moms to our waiting list. So don't procrastinate on joining this fabulous group of ladies! You can also pay your dues online this year. If you have any questions about registration, please contact Lucy or Ashley!

Exciting year at MOPS continues!

Whew! I've been slacking when it comes to posting here. If any of our members are interested in contributing to the blog even just once, please contact Lucy or Kathleen. 

Here's a quick rundown on what we've been up to:
Awesome giveaways like Disney on Ice - won by Laura! She took a fellow MOPS mom, Bethany and their boys. 

Amazing events:

• MOPS & POPS Valentine's Dinner Date catered by Biscottis.
• Ladies' Night at Moonriver Pizza - complete with tons of laughs!
• Our Annual Egg Hunt
• And we're looking forward to Bunco this week and Pump It Up next week!

Great meetings:

• James Jardine from Secure Ideas talked with us on internet safety.
• Dr. Egan from Carithers and Dr. Thornton from Jax Pedicatrics 
• A refresher on CPR
• And a meeting to catch up on those baby books or other projects we've been procrastinating.
• We're excited to have State Attorney, Angela Corey join us on Monday!

The year is coming to a close but we still have some great things to look forward to like play dates (and summer play dates), our End of the Year Party, and a former MOPS mom coming to speak with us on interior design. And of course Convention coming up in October! We'll begin fundraising soon so let us know if you're interested. It should be one of the best in a long time! Registration for next year will be available soon and you all know we normally have a waiting list so don't delay!

If you're interested in helping on Leadership or have a skill or talent that may be useful, please contact Lucy or Jan. If you're a business owner or an active hobbyist and have a product or service you'd like to donate for us to use as a giveaway at one of our meetings, let us know! You'll be mentioned in our monthly newsletter that goes out to about 40 local moms, and is published on our blog. 

Fun Times!

It's times like January when I'm so incredibly grateful for MOPS! After not meeting for a month, it's so great to get back, drop off the kids and visit with some dear friends. Plus, we always seem to kick off the new year with a ton of fun activities! There's a lot coming up so mark your calendars as you don't want to miss out!

This week, we're headed downtown to lunch with the circus elephants! How cool is that? It's not open to the public, but our awesome coordinator Lucy, has connections and got us invited! Bring your cash and buy lunch from the food trucks or pack your lunch and bring it with you. Don't forget your strollers if you have little ones who won't stay still...so bring a stroller. :)

Our next meeting we have a professional organizer coming to speak with us. I know I need help organizing after the holidays. It seems like no matter how much we clean out beforehand, we always have way too much after Christmas. And speaking of cleaning out, it's time to get in those donations for Jump N Jax! The sale is right around the corner (figuratively and literally!) Contact Gina or bring in your donations to our next meeting. We're taking new and gently loved clothing size premie through teens and all ladies sizes including maternity. We also will gladly take your kids books, toys, baby gear, baby/kid furniture, sporting gear and so much more! With your support we can make this a huge fundraiser this year! Also, everyone who donates items will receive a consignor pre-sale pass to be able to shop early! So clean out your houses, grandparents' houses and check with your neighbors & friends to see if they have anything to donate. MOPS can also provide a donation receipt for those who wish to have one.

And finally, not to be missed, is our second annual MOPS & POPS Valentine's Dinner. Tickets are sold in advance and are $28 per couple (bring another MOPS mom if your spouse isn't around!) Childcare is available and is a separate cost - $10 for the first child and $5 for each child thereafter. You won't want to miss the yummy food, good conversation and laughs. It's sure to be another hit, just ask the ladies who went last year! So mark your calendar for Sat, Feb 16th and contact Stephanie for your tickets!

New Year & Activities!

 The circus is coming! I will admit that I have never been to the circus and since moving to Jacksonville, every year the circus comes through and every year that weekend is already booked. I think this is the year I have to make time for the circus! My oldest is old enough now to remember it and my youngest is old enough to love animals. Plus I want to go for the kid in me! 

The show is at the Veterans Memorial Arena January 17-21, 2013. These pictures provided by Ringling Bros look amazing and it's just practice! 

Event Dates & Times:
Thursday, January 17 – 7:30pm
Friday, January 18 – 7:30
Saturday, January 19 – 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Sunday, January 20 – 1:00pm & 5:00pm
Monday, January 21 – 1:30pm

Our MOPS group has the chance to lunch with the circus elephants on Thursday, January 17th. This is an event you don't want to miss! How often do you get an opportunity to lunch with elephants?!?

 A SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR OUR READERS!
Get $5 off select seats by using code MOM13 (Note: Offer not valid on premium seating, opening night seats, or the Saturday 3:30 p.m. performance.)