Momology The Nearly Scientific Journal of

The & Art Science of Mothering

Today is a gift

Creative Discipline

May 2011

2010—2011 Steering Team

NE MOPS

Coordinator

Stacy Swan

Publicity

Bonnie Daughenbaugh

Note from the Editor

t is hard to believe that another MOPS year has come to an end. For me it has gone by far too quickly.

For the past three years, I have seen myself and my daughter grow through

MOPS. I will truly miss the fun and my special mom friends. I have seen growth in my core, learned more about parenting with finesse, enjoyed the circle of friends and have seen the grandscape of MOPS in my life and in other moms in our area.

I hope that in the days and weeks ahead, you take time to seek out what MOPS means to you and your child. The significance of you reaching out to another mom can make all the difference in a person’s life.

In this month’s issue there are tips for making Father’s Day a special one, creative discipline idea, yummy kabobs and so much more. This newsletter is specifically for—and about—our NE MOPS group.

As I end this season with MOPS, please keep in touch with me. I know that I will hold a special place in my mind and in my heart for each special MOPS mom.

Bonnie

Finance

Melissa Miller

Hospitality

Krista Stempka

MOPPETS

Creative Activities

Dede Fox

Mom Mentor

Kathy Tau

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Discussion Group Leader (DGL)

Bethany Fiorello

Lisa Miller

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in this issue

Today is a gift

May 2011

Page 6

The Science Spot 4 Delectable Creations 4 Mommy’s Masterpiece 5

An Art Spot 5

Today is a Gift 6

MomSense 7 Around Town

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Delectable Creations

Now that it is warming up, heat up the grill and make some kabobs that are so tasty! NorthEastMops@nemops.org.

• 6 large shrimp (1/4 lb.)

• 6 chunks pineapple

• 6 squares green pepper

• 6 wedges of onion

• 1/4 cup sesame ginger barbeque sauce

BBQ Shrimp and Pineapple Kabobs

Freeze!

Here is a creative discipline approach from Lisa Welchel that you can try with your kids. The Experiment: Toddlers love a fun game of “Freeze!” Put some

music on and dance around, then turn the music off

and shout, “Freeze!” Next, allow them to run

through the house or around the living room until

you yell, “Freeze!” Practice in the backyard, front

yard, a friend’s house, and finally in the grocery

store.

Observation: What happens to your child? The Explanation: When your child associates the word “freeze”, it will be-come an established response. Besides hearing their won-derful giggles, you will be establishing a response before the consequence of disobedience is no longer a game.

THE SCIENCE SPOT

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. 2. Thread shrimp and vegetables onto each set of parallel skewers. 3. Grill kabobs 4-6 minutes until shrimp turns pink, turning and brushing occasionally

with barbeque sauce.

Source: Family Fun

Substitute boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces, for the shrimp.

Directions: Ingredients

MOMMY’S MASTERPIECE Such a sweet smile!

Ever since the first day my daughter could smile, that joy just seemed to radiate from within that big heart of hers! People would say to us, she is such a happy baby, she always has a smile on her face. Emma not only smiles, but causes others to smile as well. Smiles truly are contagious, remember to share your joy with others.

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Picture by Bonnie Daughenbaugh

THE ART SPOT

Creative Father’s Day Ideas We all look forward to Mother‛s Day – a day when we (hopefully) get pampered and loved on by our children and our husbands…but let me just take a little detour to June…

Does your husband feel like his special day gets left in the dust. Here are four suggestions to make his day special:

1. Help your kids make a cardboard crown for him. Crown him king for a day. Wrap a bathrobe around his shoul-ders, and give him a bathroom plunger (sanitized of course!) for a scepter.

2. Help your kids think about Dad by playing a game to see who knows him the best. Give each child a paper and pencil. Have them number their papers from 1-10 and ask them to write their answer. For example: What is Dad‛s favorite sports team? Favorite dessert? Most disliked vege-table? Favorite family vacation spot? etc. When questions are answered, ask Dad to give his answers.

3. Let the kids make gift coupons – jobs they will do for dad throughout the day.

4. Create a handyman‛s gift basket with the kids. Dad‛s need to know that we appreciate all that they do to allow us to stay at home with the children – that we appreciate their hard work to provide for us and protect us. Have fun let-ting him know how special he is!

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Today Is A Gift Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That is why we call it the present. (Babatunde Olatunji, a Nigerian drummer, educator, and social activist).

Children have an amazing ability to live in the moment, while we as adults tend to have our minds consumed with so much. We are moving in so many directions that we get crazed at the slightest change in our “perfect organized” plan for the day.

What I have been learning as a mother is that the goals that I have set for myself may not be of the best interest to me or my family. Sometimes the busyness of life moves us to overlook the simple pleasures of liv-ing in the moment. As I slow down and take time to

look at the small detail of a flower, a lady bug, a cloud with rays of sunlight peak-ing through, this is where I will catch some amazing moments.

This motto of looking at each day as a gift came to me when I was stopped dead in my tracks with a severe car accident. No one knows the day, or the hour of when we will breathe our last.

Through the precious gift of my daughter, she continually reminds me of how life passes by so very quickly. It seems as if it was yesterday, when I held her in my arms and rocked her. Now I have seen her grow into a little girl that brings a smile to my face through the fun and cute things that she says and does. She is a constant source of joy. She helps me see that in the big scheme of things, life will pass you by. So take time to enjoy this day, and cherish it. It is a gift given to us by our loving Father, who desires for us to take time to reflect on who we are, who are we becoming and what we want to be remembered by.

I hope that my life will be remembered as a loving mother, wife and friend to oth-ers.

Remember each day is truly a gift, as your child is. So when you start to feel the frustration start to boil up within you, remember that this too shall pass.

Take the gift of this moment and make something beautiful of it. Few worthwhile experiences just happen; memories are made on purpose. (Gloria Gaither)

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MOPS International’s 2011-2012 Theme

OMSENSE: Bold, Loving, Sensible.

Developing a mothering strategy is somewhat like playing a game, and this year’s theme is appropriately game related. Have fun being a mom! Playing games in-

volves being bold and taking risks, loving those in the game with us and being sensible while figuring out what works and what doesn’t.

Combining a mom’s intuition and her common sense helps a women discover her own unique MomSense. (MomIntuition + Common Sense = MomSense

2011-2012 theme will teach and equip moms to embrace their mothering instincts and develop their own parenting style. While navigating through the myriad of daily mom decisions, moms will learn how to be bold, loving and sensi-ble.

Membership Benefits: In addition to the group experience, moms who are registered with MOPS International will receive:

• MomSense Magazine • Weekly Mom-E-Mail • MOPS Reusable Shopping Bag • MOPS Iron On Appliqués* • MOPS Stickers featuring VeggieTales

As a mom, you want to stretch your dollars as much as possible, we at MOPS want to help. As a special thanks to you during this past year, we would like to offer

you a substantial discount. If you pre-register be-fore May 31, your membership will be only $15.00. Typically the pre-registration is $21.95, with this discount there is a savings of $6.95. See Stacy Swan or Melissa Miller for the 2011-2012 MOPS registration form today!

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Better Moms Make a Better World

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Around Town: • Erie Zoo—Tuesday, June 21st 10:00am-2:00pm. Meet at the zoo and bring a packed lunch. • Lechtner Farms—Wednesday, July 27th 11:00am-

1:00pm. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy. • Freeport Beach—Saturday, August 20th. 11:00am-

1:00pm. Bring your beach gear and food for a picnic lunch.

• Picnic at the Swans— Tuesday, August 23rd 6:30pm-? Bring a dish to pass. Dessert, drinks and dogs will be provided.

NORTH EAST MOPS would like to thank Assembly of God Church

for the printing services. Thank you so much!

If you happened to come upon this newsletter and are interested in joining MOPS, please do!

MOPS meets the 2nd Tuesday from 10:00-11:30 am. And the 4th Tuesday from 6:15-8:15 pm.

September thru May.

For more information call 725-3435.

Find us at:

2025 Orchard Beach Rd.

North East, PA 16428

(814) 725-3435

www.nemops.org

Check this

out!

Check this out:

• Sign up for North East MOPS 2011-2012 before May 31st and you will save over 45%. Wow, now that is a savings that is worth checking out. See Stacy Swan or Melissa Miller for details.