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Support system
By MICHELLE JONES
© St. Petersburg Times, MEADOW POINTE -- When Lisa Bourjeili and her 2-year-old son, Gabriel, were ill and her husband was out of town, members of her MOMS Club picked up medicine and did her grocery shopping. "I love the support I get from other moms," she said, referring to the Meadow Pointe South chapter of the international organization. The group, which has chapters on both sides of Pasco, offers support and companionship for stay-at-home moms. It has a chapter in Meadow Pointe, and a new one in the Meadow Pointe II area. There are two in West Pasco and at least one in Tampa Palms. Bourjeili said she used to be very shy before she joined the club almost a year ago. She said making friends is difficult for stay-at-home moms who have to move frequently. But now she enjoys socializing as much as Gabriel does. "He is Mr. Social," she said. "This (MOMS Club) is a great way to make friends." Mary James, an at-home mother in California, formed the MOMS Club in 1983. She was tired of being alone at home and wanted to meet other at-home mothers and find other at-home children to play with hers. Today there are more than 1,250 chapters with more than 63,000 members across the United States. In the Meadow Pointe II chapter, mothers and their preschool-age children gather once a month at the Meadow Pointe II clubhouse. With children busy tugging at their moms' clothes, pushing chairs around the room or bouncing on their moms' laps, the meetings are quick and to the point. "They are short and sweet," Bourjeili said. At a recent meeting, president Leigh Terwilliger discussed the need for volunteers with the 13 mothers and at least 17 children who attended. "We need an editor (for the monthly newsletter) and a hospitality leader," she said. Heidi Caravetta stepped up for the hospitality job. With children getting antsy, club members sometimes have to create diversions. During the recent half-hour meeting, moms stopped to sing The Wheels on the Bus with their kids. Plans were made for an open house for new members at 10 a.m. Sept. 11, with mothers bringing bagels, doughnuts and juice. They also talked about doing volunteer work at local schools and nursing homes. Such work was one of the main reasons Robin Fish, the president of the Pasco County MOMS Club South, got involved. She lives in New Port Richey. Fish said her club works with the RAP House for runaway teenagers and sponsors families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. "I love giving back to the community," she said. "It also teaches our children to be responsible and loving citizens." However, the main thrust of MOMS Club is to provide support for at-home moms. The non-profit corporation keeps its dues low, about $15 to $25 a year. Melissa Fenton has been a member for three years. "This is my third club," she said. "When the club grows to 50 or 60 members, we start another club." Fenton said she loves MOMS Club because the other mothers help validate her choice to stay home. "Most of us left good careers and are living on one income," she said. Fenton has a master's degree in information science. She taught in the Pasco County school system and worked in the library system. Now her two sons, Casey, 3 and Ryan, 21 months, are benefiting from her expertise. MOMS Club activities include age-appropriate play groups, field trips to places such as the library, the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry. There is also a monthly moms' night out and family nights for everyone. For more informationTo find out more about MOMS clubs or to find a club near you, visit www.momsclub.org.
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From the Times |
