April 25 MOPS email

First of all, I can't believe it's the end of April. Mark only has 30 days total with his students. This year is just flying by.

The MOPS email this month is touching, yet again. Can I please get a "holler" from my playgroup moms. I love to laugh, so it totally hit home!

<<The Play Date
By Laura Joseph

My two-year-old son and I arrived at a play date eagerly anticipating what lay ahead. We were greeted with big smiles and hellos from the rest of the crowd.

Butcher paper stretched out on the grass across the middle of the yard, alongside an inflatable pool. When our host brought out the finger paint, cheers went up from the children along with a few nervous chuckles from the moms. She reassured us that it was washable and easily rinsed out of clothing. 

She poured the different paint colors into aluminum pie pans and gave the children sponges cut into different shapes to use on the butcher paper. The kids dove right in without hesitation or any need for instruction. Soon there was paint everywhere – on  sponges, fingers, hands and entire bodies. One of the boys shed his T-shirt and began painting his torso green, in an attempt to become the Incredible Hulk.

Energy abounded as the children played in the paint and jumped in and out of the pool. The moms simply sat back, sipped iced tea and watched the event unfold. It wasn’t long before the excitement of the children began to affect our own conversation, and we found ourselves talking and laughing amongst each other. We began to let go of the stresses of motherhood and completely saturate ourselves in the present moment. Friendships began to blossom. 

The children did wash up nicely and no one stayed permanently green, much to their disappointment. Our host wrapped up the play date with a serving of ice-cold watermelon that hit just the right spot for everyone.

I left the get-together having learned that it doesn’t take big budgets or extensive planning to create magical moments. And play dates aren’t just for kids.

Dear God, how good it feels to laugh with friends! Help me create such magical moments for both my child and myself. >>