Mama on a Budget: Fort Thomas Moms Club

The decision to become a one income family and thus for me to officially become the “Mama on a Budget” was the best one I’ve ever made.  I’ve been home with Knox for two years now.  697 days.  16,728 hours.  One million, three thousand, six-hundred eighty minutes. Nearly half of which were spent in time out (either his or mine).  60,220,800 interminably painful seconds.  And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.  Nothing could have been more difficult nor more rewarding.  But during one or two of those sixty million seconds, I did think there had to be some sort of support group for we moms.  I briefly considered becoming an alcoholic just to later join AA and get some adult interaction, but I first turned to Google and found the MOMS Club of Fort Thomas.

MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club is an international organization of support groups for mothers who have chosen to stay at home and raise their children. Our members include mothers of all ages, with children of all ages, and even some mothers who work outside of their homes.

The meetings are the 4^th Wednesday of the month during the day, when at-home mothers most need support. They also offer childcare during the meetings, which are paid babysitters or member volunteers. So when you are enjoying the meeting your kids can be enjoying meeting new friends as well.  I know Knox particularly liked the Halloween Party they had last year. They know being an at-home mother today means making a financial sacrifice, so dues are only $20 for an entire year! This fits right into my household budget. 

I joined back in September and didn’t really know what I was getting into.  Before attending a single meeting, I had visions of minivans and mom jeans running through my head.  But afterward, I envisioned myself making some wonderful friends and gaining a lot of perspective.  In addition to the guidance, they host activities for kids; some are informal gatherings and some are trips to the zoo.  Nearly weekly, members get Evites to many types of activities and events for that month. If you can come, great! If you can’t make it, that’s fine as well.

They also have MNO- Moms Night Out, and who doesn’t want to do that? They Have Gear Swaps – which help you get rid of your kid’s old stuff and swap or sell it to other moms who may need it. One of the more touching experiences was the response of the group to coordinate meal preparation for a group member who had given birth to her third child.  Moms who barely knew this group member all signed up to bring a meal to the family.  I witnessed this on only my second meeting and it had a lasting impact.  In addition, they sponsor at least one charitable, humanitarian, or social welfare project related to children each year.

All in all this is a wonderful group of women who understand your families’ decision to stay home with your children.  They love new members! You can find all their information at Fort Thomas Moms Club. They also have a meeting coming up January 23^rd at 10 am. The first meeting is free; you just need to contact them first. What are you waiting for?