Moms & Kids

Welcome! If you are a mom with kids any age from infancy through middle school, then Oak Arbor Moms & Kids is for you! 

Come join in the fun with this friendly, casual, supportive, and inspiring group.  And hey, it's free.

Upcoming events:

The final Moms and Kids for this School Year will be held at the Oak Arbor Playground May 19th at the usual time (9:30 - 11:00 AM).

The playground is located at the left end of the whole Oak Arbor building (if you are standing in the parking lot and facing the building). It's supposed to be a nice day, but if not, we will just meet in the Social Hall as usual.

Please bring:
1. A snack to share if possible (juice will be provided)
2. Sunscreen as there is not much shade
3. A blanket to sit on if you'd like

Besides the playground and its sandbox, there will be bubbles to blow and driveway chalk to make pictures with.

So come enjoy some social time on a (hopefully) beautiful spring day!

Summer events:

Wed June 23 10-11:30 Bear Creek Park Playground (on Snell Road not far from Oak Arbor).

Wed July 21 10-11:30 Mom visit and kid playgroup at Kim's House.

Wed August 11 10-11:30 Mom visit and kid playgroup at Gay's House. 

Both Kim's and Gay's houses are located on Oak Arbor Drive, down the road from the church.  For directions to either home or Bear Creek Park, click on the link to your left (in the "contact" section) to send an email to Kim.  RSVPs arenot needed for the summer events!  Just come if you can, and older siblings are also welcome.

How it works

• Casual, friendly, undemanding gathering of moms for fresh-brewed coffee, treats and conversation
• Visit and also discuss aspects of our wonderful adventure of parenting
• Playtime with toys, books, snacks and juice offered for tots
• Weekly meetings on Wednesdays, 9:30-11 in the Oak Arbor Church Social Hall
• Discuss very brief articles full of humor and personal experience with a pearl of mothering wisdom included
• "Party with the tots" event one Wednesday of most months, e.g. traditional Halloween parade through the school
• Anyone with tots attending can always take time out to take care of their needs or just spend the time playing quietly with their little one
• No fee, only one location, same time each week, a mix of sociable and useful time for mothers

When: Wednesday mornings 9:30-11:00 during the school year. See details below.

Where: The Social Hall at the Oak Arbor Church & School, a beautiful large room with windows looking out on the woods and lots of space for children to run around and play. Click here for a map.

Format: Come anytime between 9:30-11:00, we are always happy to see you! On the first three Wednesdays of the month, we will share relaxed discussions from 10:00-10:30 or so, relating to a very brief, often humorous parenting article. Each month has its own parenting theme. Feel free to contact Kim de Chazal (click here to send her an email) ahead for a copy of this week’s article, but feel free to just quick read it after you arrive, too - it's always short. One Wednesday of the month (for most months), we will have a “party with the tots” event, e.g. in October the traditional Halloween costume parade through the school.

The format on the discussion days is very casual. We plan to gather at 9:30 and then at 10:00 the mom in charge that week will begin the discussion with three leading questions and then we'll let it go from there. We will have about 30 minutes to devote to discussion. The discussion can be as short or as long as we like based on interest but it will conclude around 10:45 in order for those moms with tots to have time for clean-up. During the discussion time, we expect that various peripheral needs of the kids will arise and we support each and every mom to take a time out and attend to her child(ren). You are also welcome to quietly play with your child on any of the Wednesdays if that is what you think is best. The only thing we ask is that if you would like to visit with a particular mom, you try to keep it to before or after the discussion time. We are simply wanting ideas to be bounced around so that we can all go home with food for thought and maybe an idea or two to ponder as we go about our demanding and rewarding job of parenting.

Activities: One Wednesday a month, we will have a “party with the tots” event. For example, in September we did a very easy fall craft together and enjoyed some fall treats. You may (rarely) be asked to RSVP ahead for some of these events if we need to have a ballpark head count in order to provide supplies/treats. To RSVP for an activity, click here to send an e-mail to Kim.

Fees: There is no charge to attend Moms & Kids.

Book Center: We have a small collection of books about various aspects of parenting, which are available for you to browse through at one of our gatherings, or to borrow and take home.

Snow Days: Moms & Kids will be cancelled when Rochester Public Schools calls a snow day. For daily information on school closings, visit www.clickondetroit.com/closings.

2010 Schedule: Wednesday mornings, 9:30-11 AM

Your RSVP is not necessary unless requested. You may RSVP up to two weeks ahead for those few events that require an RSVP. Thank you!

Please join us - we'd love to have you!