Being a working mom can feel isolating. You want to connect with local moms with kids the same age as yours, but it seems that all the moms groups and playdates take place on weekdays somewhere between 9:ooam and 5:00pm. So all the joyous mommy-get-togetherness is occurring when you’re working.
Not anymore, Baton Rouge moms! Istrouma Baptist Church, which is centrally located in Baton Rouge off I-12 and Airline Highway, is launching MOPS/Momsnext, a special Baton Rouge moms group for all mothers of preschoolers and elementary-aged kids. Starting January 11th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the Istrouma KIDZ Building and taking place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, the MOPS/MomsNext Baton Rouge moms group will be a place moms can chat, snack, hear a speaker and do a craft. And did I mention the FREE childcare for babies through 5th grade?
I had a chance to talk with Christy Buquoi, Istrouma’s Preschool Minister about this new Baton Rouge moms group, and she gave me some great info on MOPs/Momsnext. First, the group is designed to provide community, encouragement, friendship and support for all mothers of preschoolers and elementary-aged kids. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to build a circle of local moms who are in the exact same stage of life as you? And while the group meets at a church, it is NOT a Bible study. There’s no book to read, no homework and ALL moms are invited regardless of their religious affiliation.
While some of the topics discussed are Christian in nature, all speakers are selected because their backgrounds relate to local moms. This semester speakers will include local blogger Kellye Jeansonne, who will speak about Family Centered Dinner Times. Katie Hughes will share her story of how she found her identity in Christ through her suffering. Other topics include Allowing Children to Follow Their Bent, Creating a Family that Gives, Holiday Traditions, and Self-Defense. How’s that for a well-rounded season of topics?
In addition to everything mentioned above, this year’s MOPS/Momsnext will explore the topic, “We are the Starry Eyed.” Starry Eyed means looking for the light even when darkness is enveloping. Starry Eyed is seeing the light in the darkness and choosing to live courageously in both. It is opening our eyes to wonder and choosing hope over fear. Starry Eyed is significant acts of kindness that send ripples of light into the world. It is a choice to live fully and wholly and to breathe our way back to life.
Christy told me if you feel anxious and don’t know why, if you are busy and distracted from the things you truly care about, if you are restless for an unexpected encounter with God, if you long to feel alive, to regain a sense of wonder, to hope a little freer and to be a powerful force of kindness in the world, then the group would love for you to join them Wednesday nights in becoming Starry Eyed.
MOPS/Momsnext will meet January 11 & 25, February 8 & 22, March 22, and April 12 & 26. Meetings are $2 a night to help offset the costs of childcare, crafts and speakers (though your first meeting is free), and all group members are asked to join MOPS International by their third meeting for $24.95.
If you’d like to learn more about this evening Baton Rouge moms group, you can check them out on Facebook.
