Parents' Connection: Sundays at 10am

The Campbell Church's Parents' Connection class is doing a series on How to Raise Positive Kids in a Negative World. This series has been really eye-opening and has focused on things we can be actively doing to help foster positive growth in our children despite the "negative world" we live in. This past Sunday, video speaker Chip Ingram shared 8 keys to help build relationships that bond, as stronger relationships with our children increase the likelihood that they will embrace our values and beliefs. (And as a bonus, these tips are general enough to apply to relationships with other loved ones in our lives.)

Here are the 8 keys that he shared with us this past Sunday:
1. Unconditional Love. Even during times of crisis, it is critical that our children know that our love for them is unconditional.

2. Scheduled Time. Our children feel more connected to us if they can see that we take time out in our lives to make them a priority.

3. Focused Attention. Too often in today's society we find ourselves looking at a computer or TV screen, or too involved in a household chore to stop and really focus on our children, to let them know that they can have our undivided attention.

4. Eye Contact. Our children feel valued when we make that eye-to-eye contact with them when they are speaking.

5. Ongoing Communication. To build a bonding relationship with our children, communication needs to not just be a one-time event, but something that happens on an ongoing and consistent basis. Chip suggested three ways to implement ongoing communication as a family. The first is to make dinner together as a family a huge priority at an early age, to set good habits now for the years when children are older. The second is to make bedtime special--tell exotic and captivating bedtime stories, take time to discuss the best three things about your day and listen as your kids do the same. And the last is shared experiences--camping trips, playing basketball in the driveway, family game night... all of these types of "ongoing communication" are built around showing our kids we care by creating family habits and traditions that set family time as a high priority from a young age and continuing it as our children get older.

6. Meaningful Touching. One way to show that we love our kids is with appropriate, meaningful touching. Hug them. Kiss them. Wrestle with them. Tickle them. Give them piggy back rides. As we're all moms of preschoolers, I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds my children climbing all over me at the end of a long day... especially at this age, they really crave physical touch as one of their love languages, and that's what they're looking for when they try to turn Mom into a human jungle gym.

7. Have Fun Together. Turn the computer off and plug in to having fun with your kids. And here, Chip pointed out that sharing your faith with your kids can be fun and organic, not always structured and severe, illustrating this with an anecdote about how he used to pray with his children and take them out for ice cream--instead of teaching them to recite Bible verses, we can build celebrations of faith into their lives. It's about making time with your family an enjoyable experience for your children.

8. Pray Together Often. Prayers don't need to be long or elaborate. A game of basketball at night in the driveway can easily turn into looking up at a sky of beautiful stars and giving thanks.

Parents' Connection is a support group and Bible study for parents of preschool and elementary children. Meet more parents of young children, and enjoy the discussion and fellowship over a light breakfast snack. Simultaneously, Children's Ministry offers age-appropriate classes for children from infancy through 5th grade. Personally, I have found this class in particular to be a blessing to my family and to my marriage. The classes are Sundays from 10-11 am (Parents' Connection meets in the CCS Library, and anyone would be glad to help point you in the right direction), and all are welcome with no RSVP necessary.

Mom's Night Out: Chocolate! March 31

Our next Mom's Night Out is coming up! Next Thursday, March 31, we'll be gathering at Dolce Bella Chocolates. They have chocolates, wine, ice creams, coffee, pastries... I think the hardest part will be deciding what to order! At least they have their menus online so those of us who are planning types can check it out beforehand! Please join us there at 7:30 pm. It promises to be a great, relaxing night out and a good chance to connect with other women. Thanks to Danielle Humphreys for organizing!

Wednesday playdate: next week at Campbell Church!

Rain, rain, go away...

Our next Wednesday playdate will be next week, March 30, from 9:30-11:30 am in the Oak Room on the campus of the Campbell Church. All moms are welcome--you do not have to be a registered member of MOPS to join in! Toys and tables will be available for the kids as well as space for the moms to connect and visit in the same room. See you then!

Interested in Homeschooling?

Want to know more about homeschooling? There is a free information session coming up! "Introduction to Home Education" is Thursday, April 7, from 6:30-8:00pm in room A3 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The meeting is sponsored by CHEA of CA. The website also has some useful links and resources for homeschooling parents!

Running Late

We've all had those mornings - one thing after another. One child has to go to the bathroom just as you're walking out the door, another one dumps a glass a milk in her lap and needs a change of clothes. We rush and plan and no matter how hard we try... suddenly, we are running behind.

Well guess what? At Campbell MOPS, you are NEVER late. We all know what it's like when things go wrong - but the last thing we want is for someone not to come to MOPS because they were afraid of being late.

Even if it's an hour past our start time - just show up anyway.

At Campbell MOPS, you'll be welcomed, encouraged and uplifted by time with other moms of young children.

At Campbell MOPS, you're never late. You're always right on time!

Family Movie Night!

KidZone Children's Ministry invites you and your kids to join us for enter:ACT about LISTENING - a fun family movie night! We'll watch the Veggie Tales movie: "Pistachio: The Boy Who Woodn't" and then there will be fun family activities designed for you and your kids to help them learn the importance of listening to their parents.

An optional light meal will follow of corn dogs, chips and lemonade, or you can bring a picnic your own.

And it's FREE!

Childcare available for kids age 3 and under. To RSVP for childcare, call 378-4900, x264


enter:ACT about Listening
Family Movie Night
Sunday, March 20
4:15-6pm
FREE - for parents and their kids age 4-5th grade.

Bring some comfy blankets and pillows - the best viewing seats are floor seats!

Craft Night: March 24!

Do you have any UFOs in your house?

You know, Unfinished Objects!

Crafts, crocheting, quilting - that scrapbook you started but never finished...

It's more fun when you're not alone!

Bring your UFO and join other (crafty) gals the last Thursday of the month from 6:30-10pm. Make new friends and make progress on your UFO!

But what if I'm not crafty?

Come anyway! Work on your baby book, organize your photos, write a letter to a friend! Bring a project you've been wanting to work on, but haven't had time to finish with the kids around. Come see what we're working on and get inspired!

Next meeting is Thursday, March 24 in the Oak Room of the Campbell Church. Email campbellMOPS@gmail.com for more information!

Community-Minded Kids with Teresa Drake: Wednesday

One of today’s parenting hot topics is children and their sense of entitlement. Speaker Teresa Drake (who did a great talk last year on Anger Management for moms) identifies some of the root causes of “entitlement” as she addresses our culture of over-parenting, over-scheduling, and over-indulging our children – which often produces self-centered children who lack gratitude, empathy, problem solving skills and other basic abilities. “Raising Community-Minded Kids” offers easy and useful, age-appropriate ideas to counter this growing problem. Moms will learn ways to foster a We-focused attitude in the hearts of their children, instead of a Me-focused attitude, ranging from simple chores completed at home — a child’s first community — up through adolescence.

As always, childcare is free and there will be a light breakfast. See you there!

Parents' Time Out--Free Childcare Mar. 25!

Moms and dads who are with their kids all day need an occasional “time out” to recharge. Time to be alone, run errands, or meet a friend without the kids! That's why the Campbell Church is offering FREE childcare on the last Friday of the month!

Time Out for Parents is fun, free childcare for infants through age 5, from 8:30am to 12 noon.

Drop off your kids between 8:30 and 9:30am on Friday, March 25.
Pick up anytime before noon.

Call 378-4900, x264 by March 19 to RSVP!
Please leave a message with your child(ren)’s name(s), age(s) and your contact information. This is a great opportunity for you and a friend to drop your children off together and go get a coffee and catch up!

Space is limited, so sign up ASAP!

Women's Retreat: April 1-3

Are You Loving Well? With video speaker Beth Moore.

We all deal with people who are a joy to love and those who are difficult to love. Come join us for a fun-filled weekend as we learn how to love well. Through video, we will hear from best-selling author and teacher Beth Moore, enjoy fun fellowship with other women, laugh our heads off, eat, stay up late, make new friends, and enjoy old friends. It’s a weekend you don’t want to miss!

April 1-3, 2011 at the San Damiano Retreat Center, Danville
Cost: $185 (Seniors $175)
Includes 6 meals, 2 nights lodging and all materials
$10 discount if registered by February 20!

Mom's Night Out: Sakura Nails!

It's time for a night of pampering, moms! It's not too late to join in the fun.

We're planning to get together and have snacks, light conversation, and much-deserved mani/pedicures! Come join us at Sakura Nail Bar in Japantown, San Jose, on Saturday, March 5 at 6pm!

You can also check out their website--it looks so relaxing... we'd love to see you there!

Enter:ACT about LISTENING, March 20!

Listening to parents is an important skill for kids to learn. The Campbell Church is offering a FREE event for kids and families age 4 through Grade 5. Kids age 3 may attend at parents’ discretion. Childcare available for kids 3 and under – RSVP to 378-4900, x264

Family movie night! Watch the Veggie Tales story of Pistachio: The Boy That Wouldn’t and then share in fun activities that help kids learn that:

· You are too young to always know what’s best

· Parents are there to teach us life lessons

· There are consequences to abandoning what parents say

· Listening and obeying is the BEST way.


Come join us on March 20 from 4:15-6pm. A light dinner of corn dogs, chips and lemonade will be served after the event. Bring a sack meal if you prefer!

Chocolate Tasting! Saturday, Mar. 12!

Do you love CHOCOLATE? Guest Speaker Laura Joseph will host our gourmet chocolate tasting party, which will include domestic and international treats. If you haven't been to MOPS before, this is a great one to check out and invite a friend to. Come treat yourself to a little decadence and learn how tasting parties can bring families together! We'll see you there!