SPANISH FORT, Ala.— “We’re like a family here. Everybody’s here for each other,” Subrina Miller said, attending a mothers’ support meeting one Thursday. 

Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort—which has a Mothers of Preschoolers International chapter—twice-monthly offers a place just for moms like Miller who  need advice, need to vent or just need some time away from home.

MOPS helps moms share their experiences and learn more about children’s unique needs from infants to kindergarten. A ‘moppets’ program, available for children while the moms meet, allows little-ones to work on activities and arts and crafts.

“Moms need community,” coordinator Lesli Poore said. “At the meetings we learn that we are not alone and that we are not the only ones dealing with the typical issues that come along with raising children and being a mom. 

“The meetings rejuvenate us and we return home better mothers with a couple new ‘mommy tricks’ in our repertoire.”

Growth was the topic for discussion, one Thursday night, among 12 moms in attendance.

The group discussed ways that best suited their situations, such as how to cope with letting kids go on the first day of school; teaching children to  help with chores, such as filling the dishwasher with soap; and how beneficial a trip to an empty lot can help little-ones observe nature’s gifts.

“We learned that growth is a good thing in our families and especially in our own lives as mothers,” Poore said. “Growth comes through experiences, fellowship and it even comes in learning from our children.

“We were also reminded to be thankful, especially during this time of year, and put being thankful at the forefront of our minds.”

Many moms at the meeting had children who haven’t reached kindergarten.

Some were concerned about sending their children to school because of their lack of knowledge about the teachers before the first day of school.

“Sending your kindergartner on the bus for the first time,” Alethea Griner said, was one of her most difficult times to let go. “It’s scary.”

Some moms also expressed concerns  on whether they would send their child to a public or private school.

“You have bad apples everywhere you go,” another mom said, suggesting there’s little difference between the students who attend public or private schools.

The moms chatted at the beginning of the meeting over turnip green soup, corn bread, cake, salad and iced tea prepared by Griner, the hospitality chairperson.

Some words of wisdom given out at the meeting were to hold on lightly not too tightly; hang out with people who strengthen you; make progress toward a self-goal; take risks; don’t set your goals too small; and to know when to ask for help. 

This chapter of the program began about a year ago with only five moms, according to Beth Pinyerd, a local mentor.

MOPS is a nonprofit organization that helps equip, encourage and develop moms of all ages and statuses,, according to www.mops.org, the official Web site.

The first MOPS meeting took place in 1973 in Wheat Ridge Co., with eight women, and then established a board of directors in 1981. It incorporated as MOPS Outreach, and later at just MOPS Inc., the site said.

The program began to grow as word got out from magazines, churches and conventions and more information was requested from all over the United States, the site said.

Topics such as health and dental care, nutrition needs, home needs and family needs are covered at the meetings.

For more information contact coordinator Lesli Poore at 625-0470 or visit the official MOPS Web site at www.mops.org.