Taking a breather Church program gives mom time to herself
VALENCIA — Mother's Day comes every week for some mothers who take advantage of "Mom's Morning Out" at the Valencia Presbyterian Church.
The program is at the church where mothers can drop off their young children on either Monday or Wednesday morning. Participants need not be members of the church to use the program, which is operated by the church's youth ministry department.
The staff and volunteers who mind an average of nine children per session are CPR trained and have child care clearances. Crafts, a snack, music, games and a Bible lesson round out the two-hour respite, which costs $5 per child with a maximum payment of $10 per family.
"It's absolutely wonderful," said busy mother Mary Cinker of Mars, whose three children attend Mom's Morning Out. "It makes me a better mom from not only having a break from them, but also to run errands. Because that's what I really have a hard time dragging the three kids along to do."
Cinker sometimes spends her two free hours doing laundry or cleaning. She also appreciates the atmosphere the program provides her children, who are ages 1, 2 and 4.
"The kids love it and cannot wait to go," Cinker said. "Plus it's an activity where all three of them can be together."
Laurel Westrom and her 2-year-old make the 30-minute drive from Tarentum, Allegheny County, to take advantage of Mom's Morning Out. Westrom said she usually shops at Cranberry Commons while her daughter, Alyssa, enjoys the toddler fellowship she has found in the program.
"She just loves it," said Westrom. "When I go pick her up, she completely ignores me. She just keeps playing as if I'm not there."
Westrom usually shops for her family during her time out, but occasionally pampers herself by trying on clothes or indulging in a manicure.
"Every mom deserves a little time to themselves," Westrom said. "I think it improves my parenting skills because I'm happier and more relaxed instead of exhausted."
Angie Gillis, Valencia Presbyterian's director of youth ministry, said some participants are church members, but others have no family in the area or other means of support in the daunting task of raising a preschooler.
"The parents love it because they're comfortable leaving their child, knowing the staff is going to love them and take care of them," she said.
Gillis said most mothers in the program use the time to run errands or catch up on household tasks, but others just savor the solitude.
"One mom just sat in her car and made phone calls the whole time," she said.
Gillis said a "Mommy and Me" ministry, which runs from fall to spring, was recently added at the church. She said mothers and their two- or three-year-olds can attend the one-hour program, which is on Monday mornings.
"It's so parents can do something with their 2- or 3-year-olds," Gillis said. "They're too young for preschool, but here they can do something in a group setting."
For information about either program, call the church at 724-625-2002.
