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Scott moms unite in MOPS group

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber R. Kelly-Herard
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Among the many programs the 375th Air Mobility Wing Chapel has to offer, one of its larger programs is Mothers of Preschoolers, or MOPS.

The original MOPS began in 1973, but the chapter at Scott Air Force Base started two years ago, and as a military chapter, is geared toward the lifestyle of the military mom.

The organization is open to all mothers with children in kindergarten and below.
Meetings are held the first and third Friday of every month in Chapel 1 from 9-11:30 a.m.

Each meeting begins with breakfast and time to socialize and relax. The mothers are then divided into groups of 10 to meet with a "Mentor Mom." Mentor Moms have children over age 5 and use their past experiences to help fellow moms. The groups are designed for mothers to get to know each other more and foster lasting relationships.

"To me, MOPS is fun," said Melody Sablan, Scott MOPS co-coordinator. "I was working full time and pregnant with my second child when I realized I didn't want to put my baby in childcare. When I got out of the military, I noticed I gave up all my friends, so I was at home doing nothing. When I joined the MOPS program, I walked in and it was like they were all my closest friends, we had an immediate friendship and all the pressure of the military and being a mom went away as we talked."

"Mopettes" provide free childcare during the meetings so MOPS mothers can relax.
Summer Fondren, Scott MOPS co-coordinator, said, "They have a ratio of 10 children to four teachers and they are there with a big smile to calm the nerves of the mothers and children."

In addition to Mopettes and Mentor Moms another position is Services. That responsibility is to reach out to moms of deployed spouses.

Chaplain (Capt.) Kenneth Johnson, 375th AMW Chapel, said, "Having been deployed, I know organizations like MOPS support the warfighter because it is one less thing they have to worry about in regards to their spouse and children."

Mrs. Fondren said, "It's a support group. When my husband was deployed, they brought me meals. Especially being far from family, they are here when you need them."
MOPS also does "Mom's Night Out" once a month.

Mrs. Sablan said, "It's not just a meeting twice a month, it's a lifestyle."

It is not a requirement to be religious to join MOPS, but the group is Christian based.

"Your spiritual relationship will grow by being in the group," said Mrs. Sablan. "We do Bible studies in the evenings as another place to go if you need a break, and you learn to use the Bible for answers."

MOPS is strictly non-profit, but they are always accepting gently used toys and snacks for children.

The MOPS coordinators are currently looking at creating another MOPS group in the evening for working moms. For more information, e-mail scottafbmops@gmail.com, call Andrea Beringer at 256-3935 or visit www.scottafbmops.blogspot.com.