Clarksburg MOPS...where Moms don't let Moms mother alone.: 2012

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Apples to Apples

Since I've joined the blogging world, I guess it fits for me to start a blog with, "I am so sorry for falling behind on my entries.". Then, I think I'm supposed to give a really grand reason for why I've been such a slacker. Well, guess what? I DO have a really grand reason! I have been crazy busy having fun with friends! Thank you for not letting me "mother alone". Spending time with other moms is so refreshing and rewarding!

So...........HERE WE GO! Let's blog it up.

I have to be totally honest with y'all. I grew up with a twisted view on homeschooling. When we lived in the south, it was NEVER something I would have considered to be an option for my family. I would say this is a pretty good portrayal of my past opinions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU2jdDGStsg
I'm happy to report that my opinion has changed. I attribute a few things to my 'transformation'. It was in part due to my observations. I've noticed that homeschool families seem to be very connected. The kids are not socially awkward. In fact, their social skills are quite impressive, and they present themselves extremely well. Acquiring the facts and being open-minded have also helped. This is where our "Apples to Apples" panel came in handy.

In case you missed it, I'll explain. Two meetings ago at MOPS, we had a day set aside to focus on school. We brought in a panel of school professionals and experienced parents from each method of schooling. One was one of the founders for Cedarbrook Acadamy (which walks alongside parents that choose to homeschool) and the Administrator. We had a parent that chose homeschooling for her 5 children and one that currently has her 4 in public school We also had a representative from a private christian school that works on the administrative side. It was such a blessing that they were able to give up their time and share their experiences and knowledge with us!

They each admitted that there are pros and cons to each. I love spending time with my kids. So, the idea of them going off to school for 40 hours a week is a sad thought. They grow up so fast! Homeschooling and christian schooling give you the opportunity to fill your child's mind and soul with Godly experiences, while public schooling opens up a whole new sinful world for them to see and experience. (One day, your child could be peering out the pack window waving his middle finger to passersby because he saw that it got a strange reaction when his classmate did it at school! ha) Raising your kids to be the light in a dark, sinful world can be scary, but it's exciting at the same time. Public school can be just the place for our children to show God's love to people that won't see it at home. Another great point made was that you can and should reevaluate your child's needs annually. If you feel they would strive better in a different setting, you can change your schooling strategy.

These examples just scratch the surface on their thoughts and advice. I walked away feeling so enlightened. The overall consensus from the panel was that each family and each child is different. When considering your child's schooling, decide what best fits their needs at that time, and trust your motherly instincts. (The one man in the room liked our MOMSENSE term!)

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Meet and Greet the Steering Team!

Our first MOPS meeting was, in my opinion, a great success!

We learned the meaning behind Valentine's Day. I mean, who knew it all started with a rebellious bishop who secretly wedded couples after they were forbidden to marry?! Several woman discovered their hidden talent of scooping conversation hearts out of a cup using only chopsticks. We shared many delicious breakfast and dessert foods. I'm not talking about a handful of Cheerios and a banana on the run either! There was everything from egg casserole to Pots de Creme a l'Orange! I don't even know how to pronounce that long fancy title, but I know that it was so good! ...so good that I had 2 ...so good that I couldn't concentrate on conversation for 10 minutes because I was busy thinking about how I could get another without looking like a rude pig. I drew a blank, decided 2 was enough, and re-engaged myself. (in case you were wondering how that played out) ...so good that I looked it up and posted the recipe link from The Pioneer Woman here . Thank you for bringing it Mary Lee! We made super cute name tags for our little "moppetts"! I think our kids are going to love seeing them at our next meeting!

We also learned about our theme for this semester! It is "MomSense: Bold - Loving - Sensible". Developing a mothering strategy is somewhat like playing a game. Playing games involves being bold and taking risks, loving those in the game with us, and being sensible while figuring out what works and what doesn't. Each discussion group table came up with a "team name" that related to this theme. I can only remember the name of our table. We are the "Mocha Mommies" because we have our minds on chocolate and chocolate on our minds. I'll find out what the other team names are and post them soon.

My favorite aspect of the theme is the scriptural foundation. "God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold, and loving and sensible." 2 Timothy 1:7 As women, I think we tend to be less prideful with our gifts and more reserved. I know that is a generalization, but it seems to be true with with most of the women I've been close to in my life. Maybe we shy away from pride so much that we are hiding our God-given gifts. My prayer is that God will teach us how to use our gifts boldly, lovingly, and sensibly...the way he intended when he created us.

All in all, I think we all share the same excitement. Together, we can figure out this whole "mothering" job and help each other along the way. I'm praying for you ladies, and I'm proud to call you my friends.

...AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO... (drum roll please!)...YOUR STEERING TEAM! (and the crowd goes wild!) Sorry, I had a dork moment...I am having those closer and closer together these days.

Haley Hatley

Coordinator & Hospitality