How To Declutter and Create Peace in Your Home
Am I the only one who’s ever experienced this? You come home, kids in tow, tired from a day out. You would like to rest, but there is stuff everywhere and you’re not sure how it got there. Toys, trinkets, books, crafts and papers are scattered throughout the house. Closets are bulging with clothes, laundry baskets are overflowing, memorabilia and books are squeezing into shelves. And let’s not even talk about your desk! Where are you supposed to begin? Sure, we can start by giving thanks for all the abundance! But to be honest, seeing all this stuff everywhere makes ...
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Art of the Apology
I was engaged once before Brian, well, more like one and a half times, but I will leave that detail packed up for another day. Anyway, he and I used to have epically long “fights.” ...
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A Body To Die For
For almost 40 years now, my body has been a work in progress. What started as the translucent body of a longed-after-baby has transformed through the years from the skin-and-bones body of a daredevil toddler, ...
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How To Find Your Village
People say that it takes a village - a village to raise kids. However, what they leave out is how to find the village. It takes work, putting yourself out there, care and consideration to form ...
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Art of the Apology
I was engaged once before Brian, well, more like one and a half times, but I will leave that detail packed up for another day. Anyway, he and I used to have epically long “fights.” ...
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Three Tips to Combat Postpartum Depression
PPD can be a sneaky one. You’ve gone from pregnant to not pregnant in the same moment you become the center of the universe for a hot-off-the-presses human. Recovering from childbirth is at best messy; ...
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Advice for the Mom Returning to Work After Maternity Leave
I remember crying in my car for a couple of weeks after dropping my 3-year-old daughter off at my sister’s home, returning to the workforce 15 years later. With approximately 75 million women in the ...
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Boycott Mom-Shaming
Mom-shaming begins as far back as conception of our little people. “Did you conceive naturally? Did you go through fertility treatments? Use a surrogate? Adoption?” It continues through birth. “Did you get an epidural? C-section?
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The Three Elements to Transformation
If you know anything about building a fire, you know it takes three elements for a fire to burn: a fuel source (e.g. wood, gasoline, plastic, etc.), heat (like a spark from a lighter), and ...
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Second Grade Dreams
Some kids dream about growing up to become athletes, singers or doctors. Me? I dreamt about college. I recall with great detail the day when my second grade teacher talked to our class about what ...
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MOPS International Statement of Faith
MOPS International has been made aware of a new blog and companion podcast posted this week criticizing MOPS’ theology. We are saddened that these Christian bloggers did not contact us directly with their concerns. Solid ...
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Scales and Arpeggios
Growing up, I took several years of piano lessons and my least favorite part was practicing my scales. It seemed so tedious. Did it really have a purpose? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txx9D-8ubdg Turns out there was a purpose ...
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Slingshot Fun
"We have to reinvent fun back into our American society or we are going to serious ourselves to death." - Alice Cooper https://vimeo.com/271905836 The MOPS International staff taking a much-needed fun break from the work ...
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Call for Submissions – Fall 2019
MOPS is currently seeking pieces on the following subjects: Practical Tips Activities to do with your kids Decluttering 101 – arranging the pantry, sorting baby clothes, etc. How you found your people How you document ...
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Fighting for Your Marriage When Life Beats You Up
In the parenting journey, just as in life, nothing is guaranteed. The unexpected happens to all of us, but there are some things that not only come as a surprise, they turn life on its ...
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The Juggle Is Real
I am a creature of habit. Since an early age, I realized that I thrive on routine and consistency and that I do not like surprises of any shape or form. The structure to life ...
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A Mom’s Story: Why Do I MOPS?
I MOPS because I was a mom with a toddler, a marriage looking at its tomb, and a freshly emptied womb. I was 12 weeks pregnant when I lost my second baby and gained a depression ...
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How To Take Your Kids To Church as a Solo Parent
Every summer I solo parent. I’m not a single parent, that’s different. Single parenting is real. Solo parenting is a strange alternate universe where I have a partner, but for six months it’s in the ...
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Tired Arms
My arms are so tired. I’ve hit a wall, and it’s a solid brick one that’s 4 feet wide and 70 feet high. I figured being a mom would be tiring. I counted on some ...
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