Wow! December already! Time really does fly during the holiday season. Even when we try to simplify there are still a million things to do. Baking, shopping, wrapping and all of the seasonal activities are enough to suck the joy out of the holiday season for us busy moms. Oh, and if you are having people over for the holidays, don't forget the cooking and the cleaning!
As we all attempt to keep in mind the true meaning of Christmas and open our homes and hearts to others , it is important to keep in mind the important distinction between entertaining and hospitality.
This article is a great reminder of why we should be practice hospitality and how it can be a blessing to us when we bless others in this sincere way!!
Choose Hospitality
(And it's short, because who has time to read more during this busy time???)
Merry Christmas, friends!!
Information and Insights from MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) of Quincy for Moms in the Greater Boston area and beyond.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Operation Christmas Child 2013
MOPS of Quincy will once again be participating in Operation Christmas Child and helping supply Christmas gifts to needy children around the world!Each year, our MOPS aims to make 60 boxes to spread Christmas cheer to those less fortunate.
On Nov. 21, we will be packing these boxes.
Here's how you can help!
1. Empty and Donate your adult sized shoe boxes. We will fill these with great gifts and will wrap them.
2. Write and Color a note and/or picture with your child for inclusion in the gift. You can track your gift to see where it was received!
3. Shop and Drop off the following new items:
- Toys- Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, Slinkys, etc.
- School Supplies- pens, pencils and sharpeners, markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
- Hygiene items- toothbrushes/paste, mild bar soap, comb, washcloth, etc.
- Other- hard candy and lollipops, mints, gum, t-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, ziplock sandwich bags (for bagging candy, etc.)
- Please do not include: war related items, chocolate or food, out of date candy, vitamins, liquids or lotions, areosol cans, damaged items of breakables.
4. Make a monetary donation. Write a check to Fort Square Presbyterian Church with "OCC" noted in the memo line and give it your Discussion Group Leader at MOPS.
Everything can be brought to the November 14 MOPS meeting. Get the kids involved, too!! Perhaps a trip to the $1 bins at Target or the Dollar Store could be fun and meaningful for the whole family!
Everything can be brought to the November 14 MOPS meeting. Get the kids involved, too!! Perhaps a trip to the $1 bins at Target or the Dollar Store could be fun and meaningful for the whole family!
Visit Samaritan's Purse for more information about the program or feel free to contact us at mopsquincy@gmail.com.
Friday, October 18, 2013
A Little "Me" Time
The stress of back to school season is dying down and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is knocking on our doors. During this momentary lull, perhaps it is time to think about taking a little "Me" time.
Sometimes we have to give ourselves permission to take time for ourselves. Whether it be to read a book (have I mentioned that our MOPS group has a fabulous book club that meets the 3rd Thursday of each month?), to spend an extra few minutes laying in bed even though we hear the baby coo on the monitor, or to have a night out where we can recharge, enjoy food that we don't have to share with pint-sized beggars and have an uninterrupted conversation with a friend, moms can truly benefit from some down time.
Each month our MOPS group plans a Moms' Night Out to allow us moms to do just that!
Our next Mom's Night Out is coming up soon!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
7:30-9:30 PM
Hosted by Kristen C. in Weymouth*
Bring a board game and your favorite Fall snack!
*(email mopsquincy@gmail.com for the specific address)
Sometimes we have to give ourselves permission to take time for ourselves. Whether it be to read a book (have I mentioned that our MOPS group has a fabulous book club that meets the 3rd Thursday of each month?), to spend an extra few minutes laying in bed even though we hear the baby coo on the monitor, or to have a night out where we can recharge, enjoy food that we don't have to share with pint-sized beggars and have an uninterrupted conversation with a friend, moms can truly benefit from some down time.
Each month our MOPS group plans a Moms' Night Out to allow us moms to do just that!
Our next Mom's Night Out is coming up soon!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
7:30-9:30 PM
Hosted by Kristen C. in Weymouth*
Bring a board game and your favorite Fall snack!
*(email mopsquincy@gmail.com for the specific address)
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Keep it Simple, Silly.
Let's be honest. There are days we have the time, energy and motivation to do amazing, creative and inspired things with our kids. Then there are days when keeping everyone clean, fed and unharmed seems like a monumental task.
This week's MOPS meeting will feature a panel of wonderful mothers sharing how they deal with those days when everything they do as a mom just seems to miss the mark. We'll share a few tips on how to handle our own and others' expectations for our mothering and how to take stock of all of our mommy victories.
When things aren't going exactly as planned in our household, we just get right back to the basics. For our family, keeping it real means keeping it simple. We stumbled upon this totally easy activity for our family to get out of the house, stop the bickering and (perhaps most importantly) kill some time before bedtime: A Fall Scavenger Hunt.
No prep work, no fancy materials, no clean up. Really, you could just make it up as you go along. This blog gives tons of suggestions on how to make it more complex and educational for kids of all ages, but sometimes we need to be reminded of the joy that lies in the simple things. As a mom, it is perfectly fine to keep it simple, silly!
When things aren't going exactly as planned in our household, we just get right back to the basics. For our family, keeping it real means keeping it simple. We stumbled upon this totally easy activity for our family to get out of the house, stop the bickering and (perhaps most importantly) kill some time before bedtime: A Fall Scavenger Hunt.
No prep work, no fancy materials, no clean up. Really, you could just make it up as you go along. This blog gives tons of suggestions on how to make it more complex and educational for kids of all ages, but sometimes we need to be reminded of the joy that lies in the simple things. As a mom, it is perfectly fine to keep it simple, silly!
Sunday, September 1, 2013
MOPS is back!!
On September 12, Quincy MOPS kicks off what is sure to be our best year yet!
Be sure to join us every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month for some great programming, friendships, food and free childcare. (Who can refuse that last one!? Really, the last two are more than enough to get most moms dressed and out of the house!)
So if that "getting dressed" part of the previous statement sounds like a little too much to handle, that's fine. We'll embrace your yoga pants and t-shirt. We've all been there!
On September 12, Quincy MOPS kicks off what is sure to be our best year yet!
Be sure to join us every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month for some great programming, friendships, food and free childcare. (Who can refuse that last one!? Really, the last two are more than enough to get most moms dressed and out of the house!)
The 2013-2014 MOPS theme is A Beautiful Mess, Embrace Your Story.
2nd and 4th Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 am
Fort Square Presbyterian Church
16 Pleasant St.
Quincy, MA
Attend 3 meetings for FREE!
Annual membership is $50 and includes all childcare costs.
Questions: Email us at mopsquincy@gmail.com
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