Christmas Party!

You're invited to our Mommy Break Christmas Party! We will have food, fun, fellowship, games, and more! You won't want to miss this Mom Party!

Date: December 11, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM
Place: Micah Maddox's Home
9309 Beowulf Circle
Baltimore, MD 21237

Bring a $5 wrapped Christmas ornament to exchange and a yummy Christmas goody to eat and share.

Childcare provided by sign up only for children through age 10.

RSVP: mommybreak@gmail.com

Appreciation Banquet

Appreciation Banquet

Happy Thanksgiving!

This month we will celebrate Thanksgiving by giving thanks to moms just like you! As a woman, there are many different things that fill our days to the brim. At Mommy Break this month we will take a moment to give thanks for women and ALL the things they do.

Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM
Place: Rosedale Baptist Church: Family Life Center
Cost: $5 per person
Sign up at the Welcome Center at Rosedale Baptist Church or email Micah at mommybreak@gmail.com

If you have never been to Mommy Break, this would a great opportunity to meet new friends! Don't miss out!

Child care is provided by sign up only.

You're invited to a PLAY DATE!

Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Time: 10 AM
Place: HoneyGoRun Park

Bring the kids for a relaxing play date at the park!
email mommybreak@gmail.com to let Micah know you'll be there

Directions from the church:
Turn L onto Philadelphia Road
Turn L onto Campbell Blvd.
Turn R onto HoneyGoRun Blvd.
Go about 2 miles, pass a school, HoneyGoRun Community Center will be on the R.

OCTOBER MEETING

Training Camp: Session 3
Habit Training

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM
Place: Home of Micah Maddox

9309 Beowulf Circle
Baltimore, MD 21237

Come and hear how to get your children to do the things they just don't want to do!
You don't want to miss it!
Sign up at the Welcome Center at Rosedale Baptist Church or email mommybreak@gmail.com
Childcare provided by sign up only
NOTE: Childcare will be at Rosedale Baptist Church in the Toddler Nursery, please drop your children off around 6:15 PM

Directions from the church:
Turn L onto Philadelphia Road
Turn L onto Lennings Lane (Barrington Subdivision)
Turn L onto Beowulf Circle
House # is 9309
SEE YOU THERE!!!

PLAY DATE!

Join us for a relaxing Play Date!
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Time: 10:30 AM
Place: Honey Go Run Park

Bring a lunch or just come and play.
Don't forget sunscreen!

Let me know if you will be attending
email mommybreak@gmail.com

Directions from Rosedale Baptist Church:
Turn L onto Philadelphia Road
Turn L onto Campbell Blvd.
Turn R onto Honey Go Road
Go about 2 miles, past a school, Honey Go Run Community Center will be on the R.

SPA NIGHT!

At SPA NIGHT! we took a couple of hours and remembered to take time for ourselves.

If we fail to take time to recharge once in a while we will eventually burn out and get irritable, frustrated, and depressed. With children in the mix demanding attention and needing love, our patience and energy can be pushed to its max. Below you will find the outline that we discussed at Spa Night.

I. PREPARE (shower - the first thing we need to do)

Cleanse inside and out
I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

• Take care of yourself daily physically and spiritually
• Relax, take a long hot bath physically and spiritually

II. PAINT (make-up)

Get yourself looking good inside and out

Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

• Everyone looks better with a little make-up so wear it!
• Let yourself be beautiful
• Don't not do it because you don't know how (find out how, ask someone)
• Put on your spiritual make-up (unlike your physical appearance that you can altar, spiritually be REAL) - what God sees is what you are
• Ask God to help you each day to be the best mom, wife, Mary Kay Consultant, Teacher, Realtor... that you can be.
• Be honest with yourself physically and spiritually
• You will only be as beautiful as you want to be

III. PERFUME (Smell good inside and out)

Proverbs 31:28 - Her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praiseth her.

• If MAMA ain't happy, ain't nobody happy (you are the catalyst of the family MOOD!)
• Your moom affects everyone
• Just like BO, other people will notice if you are in a bad mood
• Be positive (after you have confessed the bad things in the your to the Lord, find the good and let it keep you going)
• Be an encourager - if you notice something good in someone - TELL THEM!
• We all like to be complimented - the more you compliment others the better you will feel.
• WEAR YOUR PERFUME! It will make you feel better and others around you will notice and feel better too.

Take time to recharge your batteries before you burn out!

Come to our next meeting to find out how to MAKE TIME FOR GOD in your busy life!

First Meeting

Our first meeting was a blast!

If you were not able to attend we have posted an outline of what was

discussed on the website titled, "Do You Have a Routine" and

"Time Management." Check it out!

Be sure to sign up for June 12, SPA NIGHT! You won't want to miss this one!

Do You Have a Routine?

1. PRAY
Pray that God will give you the strength that you need for your daily routine. Phil. 4:13
says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Our strength will only come from the Lord. We can do it on our own for a time, but there will be a day that you wake up depressed, exhausted, and run-down. Gain strength by asking God for it. Just ask Him. Now!

2. PRIORITIZE
Family - Husband, kids, others (make a list)

Work - You've gotta do what you've gotta do - make the best of it!

House Work - Make a list of what needs to be done

• Cleaning
• Cooking
• Laundry

3. PLAN
Plan for the week for each of your priorities. We chose a few to talk about:

*Family

A. Husband
Plan specific time with your husband without the children. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

B. Children
Have a family day or night. If Saturday is the only day that everyone is home, designate time that is special family time. Start a tradition like Pizza and game night. Whatever your family likes to do.

C. Others
Allow yourself to have GIRL TIME! If you don't have a girlfriend, come to Mommy Break and meets lots of them! Let yourself have time that you have adult conversation with people that you can relate to. Go to the mall or our to eat with a friend. Do it!

*Work

A. If you can get a flexible job that allows you to go on the field trips with your kids or occasionally meet your hubby for lunch, do it. If you can't, make the best of what you have to do.

B. If work if stressing you out, FIND A STRESS RELIEF! Don't take it out on the kids or your husband.

C. Work is necessary in most families - make the best of it!

*Housework

#1 Housekeeping TIP - It is easy to clean a CLEAN house!

CLEAN as you mess it up!

Cleaning:

A. For dinner make the clean up part of the normal dinner routine. Give the kids a job like clearing the table or putting the forks in the dishwasher - make them help.

B. After the kids are finished playing, before they lay down for a nap or bedtime make them clean up their toys. ALL OF THEM!

C. Take 10 minutes before bed or first thing in the morning to straighten up things that have gotten out of place throughout the day. (Set a kitchen timer and make it a game with kids)

Cooking:

A. Plan meals for the week (this will save on the grocery bill, it will save time deciding what to make, and it will keep you from running to the nearest Chick-fil-a or McDonald's)

B. Prepare meals 2 or 3 at a time (freeze the extra and just toss in the microwave for a quick meal)

C. Prepare lunches the night before (this will make hectic mornings a little easier)

Laundry:

A. Do what works for YOU!

B. Have at least one specific laundry day a week.

C. DO NOT LET IT PILE UP!

D. When returning from a trip, take the suitcase to the washer.

E. Do whites on Monday, darks on Friday

F. Make the kids help according to their age

G. Pick out the entire families clothing the night before (even shoes and socks)

4. PROCEED with the PLAN - Don't let planning be your time-waster!

*Don't beat yourself up if you don't get it all done!

*Do your best to keep it fun (play music, let the kids help)

*Remember:

IT IS EASIER TO CLEAN A CLEAN HOUSE! PLAN DAILY TO PICK UP AND WIPE DOWN AND YOU WILL SAVE ENDLESS TIME OF SCRUBBING AND SOAKING.

KEEP YOURSELF UNDER CONTROL - DON'T BLOW UP, CLAM UP, EAT UP, SHOP UP, OR TALK UP - INSTEAD, PRAY UP - TALK TO THE LORD ABOUT YOUR STRESS!

Time Management

Ever feel like there is not enough time in a day?

Here are some basic Time Saving Strategies that we discussed at our first meeting.

1. Get Organized
Start with the housework

2. Find Your Timewasters
Do you watch a couple hours of TV and wonder where the time has gone?

3. Write Things Down
Grocerie list/Chores to do

4. Get a Calendar
Keep yourself from the frustration of double booking

5. Keep a notepad by your phone
Write down phone numbers, addresses, and other important info in one place so it is easy to find

6. Designate Days
Have a specific day for grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning...

7. Do Things in Bulk
Buy toilet paper and other essentials in bulk to keep you from running to the store a couple times a week

8. Teach Your Child
Have the kids help clean up - an extra set of hands goes a long way

9. Finish What You Start
Leaving many things undone will cause you to get depressed - pick a project and see it through to the end

10. Maximize Your Trips
Run errands on the way to work or school

11. Review Your Priorities
What is really the most important thing?

12. Make a File System
Have a file system for bills, taxes, insurance, and other important papers

13. Have a Reading Pile (or declutter the piles that you already have)
Take 10 minutes a day to read to unwind or if you are not a reader take 10 minutes to straighten things around the house

Mommy and Me Activity Time

Do you ever wish you had somewhere to go or something to do with your kids that did not include having to keep them quiet, crumb free, and still? Each month we will get together for a kid friendly outing that you and your children can enjoy along with other mothers and children. Outings will include places and activities such as:

• Chick-fil-a and Play
• Picnic in the Park
• Story and Snack
• Backyard Fun
• and much, much, more...

Be watching for dates to mark your calendar! See you then!

Topics we will be discussing

Mothers of young children experience things that only other mothers with young children can understand. If you are the mother of a child or children under the age of five, this MOMMY BREAK is for you. We will bring questions to the table in which you have been longing for answers. Below are just a few of the topics that we will discuss:

• Managing Time
• Keeping House
• Training Children God's Way
• Loving Discipline
• Spending Less, Enjoying It More
• Who Really Is the Head of the House?
• Home Decor on a Budget
• Depression
• De-clutter House and Home
• Teaching Children the Bible
• Trying to be SUPER MOM?

Mommy Tips

These are tips that were submitted during our first Mommy Break Meeting:

• Remember that kids go through phases; in a month or two they'll be on to something new, so don't stress the small stuff.
• Teething Tablets are great for teething fussiness.
• Excercising releaves stress!
• Potty Training Tip: Drop a few drops of blue food dye in the potty. When they go - "It's Magical" - It turns color and they get excited.
• Potty Training Boys: put cheerios in the potty and make a game of it. This will keep him from going other places than in the potty (he will have a target).

Stay Tuned for more helpful tips from other moms.