Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some Freqently Asked Questions that we get from our MOPS....

FAQ's

What is MOPS? MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers

Who is MOPS for? MOPS is for all mother of Preschoolers who have children age 0-6.

When does MOPS meet? We meet on the first and third Thursday of each month starting Sept. 3rd, 2009 until May 6th, 2010. We start at 9 am sharp and end at 11:15 a.m. We meet at First Baptist Church of Ozark at 1400 W. Jackson. The third Thursday of the month we have a "playdate"...see the playdate question below.

What do I do with my children? Upon registering for MOPS, your preschooler will attend MOPPETS.

What happens at the meetings? The format is something like this...Welcome, Breakfast brunch, guest speaker, discussion groups, and a craft or activity.

How much does it cost? International MOPS registration is $30. There is an additional month cost of $5 which covers the cost of mailings, food for your child(ren), activities for your child(ren), and the cost of your monthly craft. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE..please see Hilary or Jennifer if you need a scholarship application.

How long do I have to sign up? We are currently taking applications NOW. There is not a deadline however the sooner the better so that we can make childcare arrangements for your child(ren) and prepare for the monthly craft activity.

Do I have to go to First Baptist of Ozark to attend? Absolutely not. This is an open invitation to any one who wants to attend. All are welcome!

If I attend another MOPS can I join this one too? Yes! As long as you and your children are registered you are welcome. The $30 International MOPS fee is only due one time per year so you will not have to pay double. However you will be responsible for the $5 monthly.

How do I learn more about FBCO MOPS? If you still have questions you may call the FBCO church office at 417-581-2484 for more information or e-mail hilaryaustinrdh@yahoo.com

Who watches the children? Our children are cared for by a wonderful group of volunteers that have been pre-screened to watch children. These MOPPET voluneteers will love and care for your child during our monthly meeting. We do have pagers that the moms may wear during the meeting in case the MOPPET workers or your child needs you.

Do you have playdates? On the third Thursday of the month we host a playdate. The play date is for the moms and their child(ren). Each month is different. Sometimes we will meet at the church for a project or to play in the gym. Other months we will meet at local businesses such as Wacky World, the park, etc. A schedule will be given at the first meeting. We will do our best to get a group rate on activities and inform you of these cost at least a month in advance. We will also try to keep these activities close to the area (Ozark/Nixa) however due to some of the locations of venues you might have to travel to Springfield, if you want to participate.

Who can come to the playdates? Playdates are a wonderful way to invite your friends and neighbors. Dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles are all welcome too. You do not have to be a registered member of MOPS to participate in the playdates. This is a great time to invite someone to see what MOPS is like.

What do I wear to the meeting? Whatever you feel comfortable in. Moms come very casual. Anything from jeans, shorts, capris, work-out pants. You'll see a lot of moms in their MOPS t-shirts or anything comfortable. Everyone is super laid back. So there is no pressure...just wear what you want.

Do I have to buy anything from the speakers? No..in fact we do not allow soliciting of any businesses. If you want to share your business with the group you are more than welcome to provide a door prize. However we do not allow speakers or other moms to put you on mailings, invite you to home parties, or sell their company products.

What if I cannot afford a MOPS membership? We have scholarships available. Please contact the church office or e-mail Hilary at hilaryaustinrdh@yahoo.com if you need a scholarship application. The application is confidential and kept private. We do not want you to not come to MOPS for cost reasons so please let us know if you need assistance.

How do I RSVP my children for each meeting? Because we have to make plans for childcare, PLEASE RSVP to your discussion group leader to let us know if you are coming and how many children you are bringing. If you cannot come or if a child is sick please let us know so that we do not stress about childcare and if we have enough supplies. Feel free to RSVP to hilaryaustinrdh@yahoo.com if you need to.

What if I homeschool? Can my older school age children come to MOPS? Unfortunately, we only have childcare for children from birth to kindergarten. MOPS is geared towards mothers of preschool age children. So the topics dicussed, activities, and speakers are all for mothers of preschoolers. Because our childcare workers are volunteers we do not have enough workers to watch the older age children. It is hard enough to insure childcare for the preschool aged children. You are more than welcome to bring your school age children to the playdates on the third Thursday of the month however we do not have childcare for school age children at the meetings.

2009-2010 MOPS Theme T-shirts

Hello Ladies, 

I wanted to post this years t-shirt for you to view.  We have two colors...PINK or SAPPHIRE BLUE.  They come in sizes from Adult Small to XXXL.  The cost of the shirt is $7 each for size Small to XL. Please add $1 for each additional X. ***They are the same brand as last year. I think they have a tendency to shrink or get a little snug.

FRONT OF SHIRTS:

 BACK OF SHIRTS:

I need all t-shirt orders by Sunday August 9th.  You can pick up a t-shirt order envelope at First Baptist Church of Ozark at the Preschool Welcome Desk or in front of the church office. Make checks payable to First Baptist Church of Ozark.  If you know you want one or two of them PLEASE order ASAP.  My goal is to have them before the first meeting so we can wear them on Thursday September 3rd.  I am sure we will make another order after our first meeting but we are getting a summer promotional rate so the prize will go from $7 to $15 per shirt.  BUY THEM EARLY!!!!

Welcome to MOPS

This blog has been created for the Mothers of Preschoolers program at First Baptist of Ozark. This blog will be used to inform our moms and volunteers about upcoming events and programs with our MOPS. Please pass this blog website to all of your friends and neighbors.

Our MOPS meets the first Thursday of the month at First Baptist of Ozark at 9:00 am until 11:15 am. Our MOPS group also holds offsite play date activities on the third Thursday of the month (except in December). We will give a calendar of events at our first meeting in September.

If you are interested in joining our MOPS group you can either e-mail Hilary at hilaryaustinrdh@yahoo.com or call our church office at 417-581-2484

We are having open registration on Thursday August 6th at First Baptist of Ozark from 9:00 am until 11:15 am. Registration cost are $30. Memberships include a one-year subscription to MomSensemagazine, weekly Mom-E-Mail messages and other great benefits such as the 20009 Theme Book. There is also a monthly $5 fee that can be paid at the meeting that covers the cost of mailings, materials for the craft or activity, the decorations etc. If the fee is keeping you from joining our MOPS program please speak to our coordinator, Hilary Austin, for a scholarship application. Full and Half scholarships are available.

NEW! 2009 Theme Book

Life on Planet Mom: A Down-to-Earth Guide to Your Changing Relationships
Nothing changes a woman like motherhood. Becoming a mom affects your relationships with everyone – your spouse, your parents, your friends, and even God. During this time of life, you need to feel nurtured and loved by solid Connections you can trust. But in the chaos of raising children, cultivating relationships can take a backseat to just getting the kids fed and to school on time.

Author Lisa T. Bergren helps busy moms like you prioritize your relationships with others and offers practical ideas to enhance your six key relationships: with self, spouse, friends, family of origin, community and God. With in-depth research, heartfelt personal experience and expert advice, Bergren shows you how to keep vital relationships during the parenting years. Whether you have just brought home a new baby or you’re still trying to find your footing raising young children, you will benefit from the wisdom found in this book.