MOPS officially starts on Thursday morning, and I am so very ready.  I’m ready for brunch that I didn’t have to make myself.  I’m ready to have conversation with other women that have young kids – you know, those who understand why I’m so happy to have 2 hours of ME time.  I’m ready to hear about the new year from one of the fabulous mentor moms and meet new people.  I’m so ready for a massive part of my “second job” with MOPS to be over.  Soon, I tell myself. Very soon I won’t be making lists or making new friends over the phone when I call about MOPS.  I’m ready to not be responsible for collecting fees or collecting registration forms.  I’m ready to sit and relax and enjoy the year, learning how a Coordinator of a MOPS group is supposed to work as I learn on the job.  But this is not a job to me, it’s a passion.  Every mom needs someone to understand what they are going through and to be surrounded by those who have been there and those who are still.  And every mom needs to know how to teach their kids about Jesus, and do more than just attend church on Sunday and rely on Sunday School (the 40 hours a year they are there!).  Every mom needs to know that they are not alone in the trenches of motherhood – especially when they have a bad day and should have put themselves in time out.

If you get a chance, encourage a mom.  Whether she is a mom of elementary age, preschool or no school – she needs support, love and respect for what she is privileged to do each and every day.  We all need it.  We only get to do this raising-kids thing once.  And knowing that someone is praying for us is uplifting and refreshing.  We can’t do this motherhood thing alone, and that’s why MOPS exists.