Snacks – Food and Drinks

 We provide graham crackers and water in all of our rooms.  Goldfish are served in Rooms 13 and 14.  If your child(ren) has food allergies/special diets and cannot eat the snacks we are providing please bring an alternate snack that does NOT contain nuts.

What to Bring – Personal Belongings

 Please provide LABELED bottles, sippy/straw cups in the Rooms 8, 9, 10, 13 and 15.  Markers and tape are available at sign-in to ensure your child’s name is on their bottle/cup – please take responsibility for making sure your child’s items are clearly labeled.  Cups will be provided in Room 14.  Please label all of your child’s belongings. Consider extra clothing as necessary (potty training!) but please avoid personal toys (“loveys” are, of course, OK!).

MOPPETS drop off begins at 8:50 a.m. so that you may get to the MOPS meeting at 9 a.m.  Sign your child in, make sure they get a name tag (noting an allergies), and that their belongings are labeled when you drop them off.

In order to provide safe, quality care we must limit the number of children in our MOPPETS program.  When our childcare register is full, we will activate a waiting list for childcare enrollment.  New MOPS members should contact Jen Engelhardt (jen@solanapres.org)  to enroll a child or place the child on the waiting list.  Children are placed appropriately by age, developmental skills, and group dynamics to help accommodate your child’s learning and safety.

This year as moms study MomSense: Combining Mom’s Intution and Common Sense in mothering, the children in MOPPETS will be learning about justice and mercy, forgiveness and love, strength, courage, generosity, humility and faithfulness –being together with each other and God. MOPPETS will experience focused and free play, singing, crafts, snack-time, Bible lessons. Lots of fun with friends!

 The teachers and volunteers are excited to teach and care for your precious little ones!

Serving in MOPPETS lets us help each other and also gives us the opportunity to better understand the MOPPETS program through first hand observation.  Even if you don’t have a child in MOPPETS it is easier to recommend the program when you have seen for yourself what goes on there.  We hope each mom will enjoy the opportunity to see our kids together and get to better know the staff and volunteers who serve us at each meeting by keeping our children safe and cared for.

 Every mom in MOPS spends atleast 1 hour and 15 minutes in MOPPETS each semester. Each table has one mom serving in MOPPETS every meeting in either the 9-10:15 or 10:15-11:30 time slot.  . 

 Please address any questions about this policy to Ericka Southcombe (SBPC MOPS Coordinator) and Emily Kates (Assistant Coordinator).  It is a joy and privilege to serve each mom and child through MOPPETS — thank you for helping to make this program successful!

MOPS loves visitors! 

To warmly welcome visitors and make the best of their experience at MOPs, we have put together the following guidelines for all visitors to Friday MOPS Meetings. 

• Contact your DGL to let them know you will be bringing a visitor in advance of the Friday meeting.  There is a $5 fee, which can be placed in the appropriately marked envelope at the Hospitality Table. 
• Unfortunately, we are unable to provide childcare for visiting moms.  Please let your visitor know that they will need to find alternate care for their child(ren) while they visit MOPS. 
• Upon arriving at MOPS, sign your visitor in at the hospitality table in Debin Hall and get her a name tag. Introduce your visitor to your DGL, your table, etc.

MOPS places high value on the discussion groups as a place where women can s  hare their feelings and thoughts, and bond with others.  To do this, each woman must feel safe and secure, and be sure that the things she communicates will be kept confidential within the group, and that she will be respected and valued as a group member. 

Discussion Group time is used to explore topics that are presented at each meeting.  Because of the nature of the personal sharing, there are some basic ground rules that we must all understand and abide by:

•  Everything that is shared in this group, stays in this group. Nothing is to be shared with others, unless someone gives their permission.  This includes sharing with friends and husbands outside of MOPS, and with other MOPS moms from other tables. 
• Be encouraging and supportive of each other.  Even when we disagree with each other or their point of view, we need to respect every woman and her viewpoints.  There should be no put-downs of any type towards anyone. 
• Be uplifting when we speak of others.  When we are sharing about our personal lives, we need to speak respectfully about others that are not present.  This means that there should be no negative comments about our husbands, friends, parents, children, etc.  Situations do arise that have conflict, and we want to allow for those conversations if applicable.  But remember it is the situation, not the person,  that is the problem.  (If you have a specific problem that includes negativity about someone, you may speak in private to your DGL or your mentor mom, if needed to help resolve a conflict).
•  If you have a personal need that you would like help with, but do not wish to share this with the group, please feel free to talk to your DGL, Mentor Mom or any of the other MOPS leaders.  We will try to help or we may direct you to someone better suited to assist you with your particular question or situation.  We are here to help you and you are important to all of us.

 Enjoy this time, get to know other moms, and have fun!

If you have news or events you would like to share with other MOPS moms please talk with Ericka Southcombe (MOPS Coordinator) or Anne Kolb (Assistant Coordinator).

 Emails will be sent out to share upcoming events and information for our meetings — please make sure your email is correct on the sign-in sheet and let us know if you are not receiving these emails.  If you’d like to contribute to managing or improving our communication we would love your help!  This is a fantastic way to share your knowledge, experience and talents with other moms

We will have periodic social activities throughout the year. In the past, this has included such fun outings as a visit to the pumpkin patch, Helen Woodward Animal Center, park days and many more. Each year is different. If you have any ideas for outings or would like to arrange a playgroup, please contact our Social Activities Coordinator, Allison Mangiafico at : allison.mangiafico@mac.com; Watch for announcements and/or evites about upcoming social events!

Visit our MOPS Lending Library and see the books that we have on topics of interest to moms.  Simply find the materials that you’d like to borrow, fill out the check out form at the table and take the book home.  When you’re finished, bring it back.  It’s easy!