MULETOWN MOPS — GATHERING AND SUPPORTING MOMS

By Kathy Fox

PHOTOS BY ROSS JAYNES VISUAL MEDIA CO.

Mission

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International encourages and equips moms of young children to realize their potential as mothers, women, and leaders, in relationship with Jesus, and in partnership with the local church.

Motherhood is a journey that lasts a lifetime. It entails great sacrifice but offers an even greater reward. It can be difficult and challenging at times, but there will be many joyful moments too. Muletown MOPS was started by a group of nine moms in Columbia in 2021 as a type of support group and camaraderie for local moms. The acronym MOPS stands for “Mothers of Preschoolers” and was founded in 1973 when a group of moms with young children came together to share their lives and parenting journeys. Now 49 years later, MOPS International has expanded its reach to include ALL moms and partners with churches and organizations in more than 70 countries worldwide to equip and encourage moms.

Muletown MOPS had its first meeting in October 2021 and the group is open to any mom with kids up to school-aged through kindergarten. The group of moms and kids meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, but there are also nights out planned for the moms. Playdates are scheduled for Friday mornings along with plenty of other opportunities for all to get involved. The annual fee is $60 and other nominal fees may apply for different outings depending on the event. The meetings are structured and include a variety of activities, such as time to network, devotions, crafts, and may involve videos from MOPS International or guest speakers depending on the meeting theme.

There has been a wonderful response to the MOPS group here in Columbia since it began last year. “We currently have 40 members from Columbia and surrounding areas such as Thompson’s Station, Spring Hill, and Hampshire. The group is open to all moms and we want people to know you don’t have to live in Columbia to join,” Marika Handziak, one of the Columbia founders, explained. This fall there are already plans to grow into the MOMSnext group, which is a group for moms with elementary-aged children. MOPS International also offers Teen MOPS, a group for moms under the age of 20 (nothing local yet), and Mama Meetup™ which are online groups gathering to traverse the joys and challenges of moms’ unique journeys. Additionally, virtual gatherings are available for working moms, single moms, tired moms, happy moms, and moms of children with special needs in the Mama Meetup™ group. Whether meeting online, in a coffee shop, or at church there is a group suited to meet each mom’s needs.

MOPS is a wealth of information for moms and there is The MOPS Magazine as well as a radio program that helps MOPS encourage every mother of preschoolers, whether a mom attends the MOPS program or not. “We wanted to create a space where moms can come together for support and community,” Kelsey Caso said, another founding member in Columbia. “MOPS is a community of moms, with kids of all ages, living life together. You will find friendship and support here as we all learn to embrace motherhood as a catalyst, not a constraint.”

If you would like to learn more about Muletown MOPS, there will be two meetings in May on the 10th and 24th before taking the summer off. For additional information on Muletown MOPS follow them on social media at @muletownmops or email muletownmops@gmail.com.