Christ United Methodist Church
2900 Springfield Road (near intersection of Route 3 & Springfield Road)
Broomall, Pennsylvania
    Click HERE for directions courtesy of Google Maps

Doors open at 7:30pm for socializing/discussion
8:00pm Business Meeting
Speaker or activity to follow the Business Meeting.

Thursday, March 18, 2010 - Mothering and Marriage: Finding Balance -  “Mommy Guilt” is something most moms experience.  It’s that nagging feeling that no matter how over-tired and over-stressed you are, you still feel like you’re not doing a good enough job as a mother.  Well, let’s be honest.  There’s another kind of guilt that haunts so many married women with small children.  I call it “Wifely Guilt”, the fear that we’re not doing enough to keep the fire alive in our marriages.

Believe it or not, these two types of guilt are two sides of the same coin.  Both are shrouded in secrecy and shame, both are rooted in myths and misconceptions, and both can make it impossible to feel good about yourself.  The good news is that there is one cure for both: talking about it!

Join psychotherapist Jeanine O’Rourke, LCSW in an informative, skillfully moderated discussion of these all-too-common secret stressors.  We’ll explore the origins of “Mommy Guilt” and “Wifely Guilt”, dispel the myths that perpetuate unrealistic expectations, and learn practical strategies for changing the way we see and take care of ourselves and our marriages.

Jeanine O'Rourke, LCSW is a psychotherapist in private practice in Wyndmoor and Philadelphia.  She is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Smith College School for Social Work.  Jeanine has worked extensively with children, families, and trauma survivors, and is a former director of the Renfrew Center for the treatment of eating disorders. Since the birth of her second child, Jeanine has been developing a specialty in postpartum adjustment, and began running support groups for new mothers 2007.  To learn more about Jeanine, please visit her website www.therapyforwomen.net

Thursday, April 15, 2010 - MOMs Night Out - This month is your chance to get out socially without the kids and just relax and chat with other MOMS in the club. We will meet at a local establishment (to be announced).

Thursday, May 20, 2010 - Topic TBD

Contact the Vice President, Autumn S., with questions or comments regarding meeting topics.

Be sure to sign in at each meeting! Members with perfect attendance are eligible for a free membership for the following year based on a drawing from the sign in book from each general meeting. Congratulations to Debbie Murphy for winning the drawing at the June 2009 banquet.

• September, 2009 - Speed Networking: You may have heard of “Speed Dating.” Well, speed networking is just about the same, minus the fear of rejection. The goal is simply to broaden our individual network of women who can relate and share experiences. Sign-ups for the fall sale and upcoming social events will also occur.
• October, 2009 - Fitting in Fitness: Michelle Collier, founder of Performance Fitness, LLC, is certified as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She is also a certified Pilates and CrossFit instructor. At this informative meeting, you will find out the most effective ways to fit exercise into hectic family and personal schedules. You will leave this event feeling informed, energized and empowered to take charge of your health and fitness! To find out more, visit the Performance Fitness website, www.performancefitnessllc.com.
• November, 2009 - Creating an Action Plan:  What Every Woman Should Know: Our speaker this month is Dana Zamrik, a Financial Advisor & Financial Planning Associate for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in the Berwyn office AND a mother of twins. Her presentation will help us understand how the financial facts of a woman's life are unique, making it important to stay actively engaged in family finances, create a support network, get organized, and set financial goals.
• December, 2009 - There is no general meeting in December.
• January, 2010 - Get Your Questions Answered: An Age-Based Discussion Night - January’s general meeting will be a new twist on an old format.  We will start off by doing a quick icebreaker to explore what we have in common outside of the fact that we all have multiples. Then, we will separate into groups according to the ages of our children. Each group will be able to have open discussions about questions that pertain to their unique families. This should be a great night to meet new people and work through some tough spots which we all go through.
• February, 2010 - Positive Parenting: Bob Lento, educational consultant, noted keynote speaker, and owner of Lento Educational Services, will describe dozens of ways parents can help their children develop a good self image and confidence.  Parental use of positive, rather than negative, approaches in disciplining will be demonstrated along with the use of natural consequences rather than punishment.  He will also be describing ways that parents can anticipate the inappropriate behavior. In addition, Bob will show various ways parents can appropriately praise their children while demonstrating consistent temperament and approach.  As an added bonus, Bob will share with pre-school and kindergarten parents seven areas that determine a child’s readiness for kindergarten.  He’ll address the toddler moms separately too.