MOPS – A place for moms with young children

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Dyess Chapel has recently started a support group for mothers with young children or are expecting a child, which meets on the first and third Monday of each month from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

The program called Mothers of Preschoolers is an international organization that is dedicated to improving relationships and making stronger moms. While the program is a Protestant-based organization and sponsored by the base chapel, anyone with a child is invited to join the group.

"Anybody from an expecting mom to a mom with a child in kindergarten is more than welcome to join MOPS," said Chaplain (Capt.) Michael Johnson, 7th Bomb Wing Chapel. "This organization is more than a support or playgroup - our goal is to make better mothers, wives and make stronger leaders in the family."

Each year the organization focuses on one theme, with this year's them being Plunge - Into Relationships.

"This year's theme is especially relevant to spouses and military moms, as it's difficult to make new friends and leave a support system behind when joining the military or going to a new base," Johnson said. "When arriving at MOPS a mother can expect to see children having activities based on age, and the ability to talk with other mothers about the topic of the day."

The group having already grown to around 20 mothers in such a short time period has made feeling welcomed a priority for a new member.

"Mothers here have the unique opportunity to connect with other mothers and not feel alienated from the military community," Jonson said. "The mothers who attend also like the fact the organization meets on base, so those who are attending are facing the same challenges or have faced those same challenges in the past.

"Some of the mothers said they felt some apprehension about going to the group initially, but once they went to a meeting they felt loved and accepted immediately," Johnson said.

The next MOPS meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 1 at the Dyess Chapel Annex.