Comments on: Start a Mom’s Group http://raisingolives.com/2009/04/start-a-moms-group/ Large Family Homeschooling Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:01:43 +0000 hourly 1 By: Patty http://raisingolives.com/2009/04/start-a-moms-group/comment-page-1/#comment-90721 Patty Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:23:46 +0000 http://raisingolives2.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-90721 I really want to do this, I really feel like I am needing other mothers to connect with. I have 4 kids at home and used to attend a MOPS but it is no longer active, I was going to start going to one that is about a 40 minute drive twice a month in Jan. but I just wonder if something like this would work for me. I would love to do this, I love having people over. Praying this will happen for some mothers in need here. I really want to do this, I really feel like I am needing other mothers to connect with. I have 4 kids at home and used to attend a MOPS but it is no longer active, I was going to start going to one that is about a 40 minute drive twice a month in Jan. but I just wonder if something like this would work for me. I would love to do this, I love having people over. Praying this will happen for some mothers in need here.

]]> By: Not Me: Weddings and Tea Parties | Raising Olives http://raisingolives.com/2009/04/start-a-moms-group/comment-page-1/#comment-28566 Not Me: Weddings and Tea Parties | Raising Olives Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:13:50 +0000 http://raisingolives2.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-28566 [...] did not send out an email reminding the ladies in our mom’s group that our next meeting would be on Thursday, August 10th  (psst, there is no Thursday, August 10th [...] [...] did not send out an email reminding the ladies in our mom’s group that our next meeting would be on Thursday, August 10th  (psst, there is no Thursday, August 10th [...]

]]> By: Mama Mirage (Jessica) http://raisingolives.com/2009/04/start-a-moms-group/comment-page-1/#comment-2670 Mama Mirage (Jessica) Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:33:34 +0000 http://raisingolives2.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-2670 I tried that in my town for 2 years and kind of bombed out. 6 moms joined and then there were cliques and snobbery. 2 of those were teachers and they looked like I was trying to invalidate or offend them every time I mentioned homeschool, even though I never said anything negative about public school or teachers and in fact all I said was just to answer, when asked which preschool we'd be enrolling my daughter in, that I would be homeschooling her. :( There was one other homeschooling mom and she was the rudest, snobbiest, meanest person to me in the group. I did come out of it with one true friend but now that the group has split up and her kids are in public school I barely ever see her. So I tried to join the local homeschool group and the woman in charge takes weeks to get back to me as I'm trying to ask her questions about the group. Also that mean mom probably attends this homeschool group so to be honest I'm not really looking forward to it. I looked at a Christian group in the next town over after that. They have co-op classes and field trips and their statement of faith is wonderful! I was so excited so I sent a message requesting more info and introducing myself and the woman who replied was cold and bordering on rude. She basically insinuated that I am doing my almost-3-year-old HARM by starting to teach her "school" things now and that I should wait until she's 6, 7, or 8 to start schooling like she does. She told me to let my daughter be a child. (This offended me because I would never force schooling on a toddler! My daughter literally begs me to learn. She interrupts my loading the dishwasher or cooking supper to ask what letter is that or help her write letters at the table. She asks me what sound N makes and I tell her N says nnnn and she'll be happily chanting, "N say nnnnn!" all week.) Also I had asked clarification on one of their rules which had made it sound like parents were required to attend EVERY meeting which I would not be able to do living in a different city on the nights my husband works late. She took that to mean I didn't want to actually attend ANY meetings and made a snarky comment back to me about it as her reply. I wrote back to her in a very kind and tactful way, apologizing for miscommunicating my questions and explaining the situation with my husband. She had also given me a long list of books at her city library that I was supposed to read to convince me of the error of my ways in allowing my 3 year old to learn reading and writing skills, so in my tactful reply I said that I live in a different city an hour away but I have been listening to a homeschool seminar by Gregg Harris which has been tremendously helpful. I thought surely she's heard of Gregg Harris and will back off now that she knows I am researching it and not just skipping my way along uneducated about anything relating to homeschool. She replied again with another snarky comment about how she is 'sure (my town) has it's own library and there's this little thing called inter-library-loan.' I was very offended and tried not to cry and have not written back to her. I seemed to be out of options and I am hurt and discouraged and just don't know what to do! Then I was inspired to make a message board for Christian homeschoolers. I figured if my area homeschoolers are so mean-spirited and snobbish then fellowship with them will either make me like them or make me feel bad. Neither of which I want. So I began a message board for conservative homeschooling Christians here: http://godshomeschool.aceboard.com/ So far only one person has joined and I've had it up almost a month. Having alot of discouragement right now but trying to hold out hope and keep praying. God bless you for this blog and the encouragement I'm getting reading it! It's about all I've got right now. I tried that in my town for 2 years and kind of bombed out. 6 moms joined and then there were cliques and snobbery. 2 of those were teachers and they looked like I was trying to invalidate or offend them every time I mentioned homeschool, even though I never said anything negative about public school or teachers and in fact all I said was just to answer, when asked which preschool we’d be enrolling my daughter in, that I would be homeschooling her. :( There was one other homeschooling mom and she was the rudest, snobbiest, meanest person to me in the group. I did come out of it with one true friend but now that the group has split up and her kids are in public school I barely ever see her. So I tried to join the local homeschool group and the woman in charge takes weeks to get back to me as I’m trying to ask her questions about the group. Also that mean mom probably attends this homeschool group so to be honest I’m not really looking forward to it. I looked at a Christian group in the next town over after that. They have co-op classes and field trips and their statement of faith is wonderful! I was so excited so I sent a message requesting more info and introducing myself and the woman who replied was cold and bordering on rude. She basically insinuated that I am doing my almost-3-year-old HARM by starting to teach her “school” things now and that I should wait until she’s 6, 7, or 8 to start schooling like she does. She told me to let my daughter be a child. (This offended me because I would never force schooling on a toddler! My daughter literally begs me to learn. She interrupts my loading the dishwasher or cooking supper to ask what letter is that or help her write letters at the table. She asks me what sound N makes and I tell her N says nnnn and she’ll be happily chanting, “N say nnnnn!” all week.) Also I had asked clarification on one of their rules which had made it sound like parents were required to attend EVERY meeting which I would not be able to do living in a different city on the nights my husband works late. She took that to mean I didn’t want to actually attend ANY meetings and made a snarky comment back to me about it as her reply. I wrote back to her in a very kind and tactful way, apologizing for miscommunicating my questions and explaining the situation with my husband. She had also given me a long list of books at her city library that I was supposed to read to convince me of the error of my ways in allowing my 3 year old to learn reading and writing skills, so in my tactful reply I said that I live in a different city an hour away but I have been listening to a homeschool seminar by Gregg Harris which has been tremendously helpful. I thought surely she’s heard of Gregg Harris and will back off now that she knows I am researching it and not just skipping my way along uneducated about anything relating to homeschool. She replied again with another snarky comment about how she is ‘sure (my town) has it’s own library and there’s this little thing called inter-library-loan.’ I was very offended and tried not to cry and have not written back to her. I seemed to be out of options and I am hurt and discouraged and just don’t know what to do!
Then I was inspired to make a message board for Christian homeschoolers. I figured if my area homeschoolers are so mean-spirited and snobbish then fellowship with them will either make me like them or make me feel bad. Neither of which I want. So I began a message board for conservative homeschooling Christians here: http://godshomeschool.aceboard.com/
So far only one person has joined and I’ve had it up almost a month. Having alot of discouragement right now but trying to hold out hope and keep praying. God bless you for this blog and the encouragement I’m getting reading it! It’s about all I’ve got right now.

]]> By: Audrey http://raisingolives.com/2009/04/start-a-moms-group/comment-page-1/#comment-767 Audrey Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:37:48 +0000 http://raisingolives2.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-767 I started a moms group in my town too. :) It's a playdate now, but we started meeting when our kids were born (all in 2007) and we read The Power of a Praying Parent together, prayed together, etc. etc. Now we've been meeting for almost 2 years and there are only 4 of us left (the rest have moved on, either in this season of life or geographically) and our children, and now since the kids are older, it is a playdate for them and fellowship for us. We have a short prayer time (too many almost-2-year-olds in one house gets a little crazy!) and we eat lunch together and we are the best of friends! We lift each other up and encourage each other, and I could not ask for a better group of women to meet with every month! I started a moms group in my town too. :) It’s a playdate now, but we started meeting when our kids were born (all in 2007) and we read The Power of a Praying Parent together, prayed together, etc. etc. Now we’ve been meeting for almost 2 years and there are only 4 of us left (the rest have moved on, either in this season of life or geographically) and our children, and now since the kids are older, it is a playdate for them and fellowship for us. We have a short prayer time (too many almost-2-year-olds in one house gets a little crazy!) and we eat lunch together and we are the best of friends! We lift each other up and encourage each other, and I could not ask for a better group of women to meet with every month!

]]> By: tara lacayo http://raisingolives.com/2009/04/start-a-moms-group/comment-page-1/#comment-726 tara lacayo Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:02:32 +0000 http://raisingolives2.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-726 WOW!!! What a great idea!!!!! I am going to pray about starting one of these in my home!!! WOW!!! What a great idea!!!!! I am going to pray about starting one of these in my home!!!

]]> By: Kimberly http://raisingolives.com/2009/04/start-a-moms-group/comment-page-1/#comment-467 Kimberly Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:26:34 +0000 http://raisingolives2.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-467 For refreshments I usually just have one of my daughters fix some cake, brownies or cookies. They enjoy the opportunity to make something sweet. I have water available and then hot tea and coffee. Sometimes another mom will offer to bring something and that works well also. We usually have a number of moms leave around 9:30 or 10:00 and others stay later to visit more. We have been known to stay up until after midnight. My family is at home while we have the meeting. Have I mentioned that God has blessed us with a wonderful house that is well suited to hospitality? We are able to meet in the living room and be out of the way of my husband and children. Also, most of our children go to bed at 7pm, so they are all sleeping and the 2 oldest are reading quietly. For refreshments I usually just have one of my daughters fix some cake, brownies or cookies. They enjoy the opportunity to make something sweet. I have water available and then hot tea and coffee. Sometimes another mom will offer to bring something and that works well also.

We usually have a number of moms leave around 9:30 or 10:00 and others stay later to visit more. We have been known to stay up until after midnight.

My family is at home while we have the meeting. Have I mentioned that God has blessed us with a wonderful house that is well suited to hospitality? We are able to meet in the living room and be out of the way of my husband and children. Also, most of our children go to bed at 7pm, so they are all sleeping and the 2 oldest are reading quietly.

]]> By: Roan http://raisingolives.com/2009/04/start-a-moms-group/comment-page-1/#comment-462 Roan Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:14:41 +0000 http://raisingolives2.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-462 This sounds like a really good idea. Do yall have refreshments? How do you organize that? How long do the meetings usually last? Where are the family members of the hostess's home? Thanks! This sounds like a really good idea. Do yall have refreshments? How do you organize that? How long do the meetings usually last? Where are the family members of the hostess’s home? Thanks!

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