Hey Darya! Thanks for joining us today on our virtual couch. We are going to talk about the group you coordinate for moms and kids. Tell us a little about it.
Hope Playgroup is a great way to connect with other Hope moms during the week. We bring our kiddos of all ages--infant to preschool age --and meet at various locations around town, including each other's homes and public play areas. We have lunch together and enjoy getting to know each other while our kiddos play!
When do you meet? or should I say play?
We play on Monday mornings from around 10 am through lunch time, depending on the hostess. Sometimes we meet Wednesday afternoons 3:30ish as hostesses provide invitations for the calendar.
So how did this all begin? What motivated you to start this group?
Our family had been going to Hope for a couple years and had still not made any real connections or friendships. We felt like we were saying "Hi" and "Good-bye" to lots of friendly faces back in the nursery as we rushed our kids in and out each Sunday. And I was at home, alone with 2 little ones, relatively new to Richmond, longing for connection with other moms. I first decided to get involved in my neighborhood MOMS Club, and started going to playgroups for my kids in our neighborhood.
I quickly realized there was the same basic need at church that stay at home moms had in my neighborhood--friendship, camaraderie and a sense of connection. I started asking moms I had been saying "Hi" to in the Hope nursery if they wanted to meet during the week for play dates. And of course just like me, they did! We started emailing each other, passing the word, growing the email list and then started a monthly e-newsletter with a calendar of all play dates and contact info for getting together during the week.
What do you hope women will gain from their participation?
For me, the playgroup has provided connection and friendships with other Hope moms. It addresses my immediate needs as a stay at home mom and connects me with moms at Hope, bringing us together in our similar stage of life, creating along the way a sub community at Hope where I and my family are "known." My hope is that the playgroup can be this kind of resource for new moms to Hope.
I also hope that the playgroup can be an inspiration and encouragement for us to continue looking outward, reaching out to new moms and bringing them in to a vital community at Hope.
What do you like most about the playgroup?
We may just have a quiet little "movement" going on with our stay at home Hope mom population and it's had somewhat of a catalyst affect! The best part has been all of the new moms to Hope that have joined!
From the playgroup we started a playgroup potluck for our families once a month on Sunday afternoons which has been a great place for our families to get to know each other and for our husbands to make some connections of their own!
This has happened and continues to happen; because a group of our husbands formed a men's bible study and have taken a leading role in the evolution of the men's ministry at Hope!
Another fun outgrowth is our newly formed monthly e-newsletter that provides a calendar of all playgroup locations, invites from Hope moms to share in local events, a place to share recipes and support each other's home biz efforts.
Helping Hands and Moms Night Out are coordinated by 2 of our original playgroup moms and are even more meaningful ways we stay connected and reaching out to other Hope moms.
What happens at a typical playgroup, other than, of course, playing?
We often pack our lunches and feed our kids along side each other after some fun playtime in a friends playroom or a local play area or park. It's fun iinteracting with other Hope moms and their kids in "real time" outside of church--experiencing together all that comes with being a mommy of young ones!
What about the gal who's brand-new to Hope and a little nervous about doing something new...
The heart of Hope Playgroup is "for" the new Hope mama and her family. You'll find it an easy way to connect and a fun way to meet other Hope moms!
OK, I want to be there! How can I find out more?
Write me, Darya at darya@suleske.com or call 550-7829. I'll get you added to the playgroup master email list for the monthly e-newsletter/calendar. I can answer any questions you have and let you know where the next playgroup location is!
OOOH, and Happy New Year: a chance to clean out or trade out!
Hope Playgroup Toy Swap
You can just come to play Monday, January 11th at 10AM as usual but also feel free to bring any toys, childrens winter clothes or maternity wear that you no longer need. We'll put them on tables and you can leave them or take something that you like with you. "One man's treasure" sort of thing! Anything left will be donated to Hope Ministries--Adventure Woods, our maternity closet, etc.
Contact Darya to RSVP!
Thanks for joining us Darya!
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