
Feature/General
Bringing Moms Together for 25 Years
By Jacki Gaytan
Sept/Oct 2006
As a new mom and new to the Athens
area I didn't know anyone or have any family in town. I wanted
to meet other moms to network with and to help me get to know the
Athens area. One day as I was flipping through an Athens Area Parent
magazine I found the answer to my prayers, a web address for the
Athens Mothers' Center.
Thanks to a group of women more than 25 years ago,
mothers in the Athens area have their very own network to turn
to, the Athens Mothers' Center (AMC).
AMC recognizes motherhood as a demanding and important
job. It offers women an opportunity to take the stress out of mothering
by offering discussion and activity groups, parenting education,
social events and information about community resources. My favorite
part about AMC is the email listserv where you can post questions
about how to travel with your baby or get a recommendation on a
good auto mechanic - you will receive all the advice you could
ever want.
The philosophy of AMC is to provide a nonjudgmental
environment and to respect a mother's choice in her method of parenting.
I have found that it is a great place for learning, listening and
supporting one another by sharing thoughts, experiences, feelings
and "what has worked for me" advice.
As long as you have moms and dads that stay at home with
their kids, you'll always have a need for a support group like
AMC. |
AMC is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
It started back in 1981 by a local mother, Suzanne Hightower, who
wanted to find other moms to talk to and have some support when
it came to parenting issues like feeding, sleeping, teething, toilet
training, etc. At the first meeting there were seven moms and eight
children. They started meeting in people's basements and, by word
of mouth, the group grew quickly and needed more space to accommodate
their growing needs, eventually settling at the current location
at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church. Today there are more than 50
members.
Lindsey Shiver has been a longtime member of AMC.
She first started going in 1984 with her two boys, Brenton, now
22 years old and Clayton, now 19 years old. In 2001, she found
herself back at AMC with her son, Cutler.
"The first time I came to AMC was in 1984. What it did for
me was it gave both my kids and me friends. It provided a social
outlet for the kids and me. These are the same reasons I started
going back with Cutler, to be with other moms with small kids,
to have a support group and to find friends for Cutler," says Shiver.
"I love getting different ideas from other moms on what has worked
for them having dealt with the same issues."
According to Shiver, not too much has changed over
the last 25 years. "As long as you have moms and dads that stay
at home with their kids, you'll always have a need for a support
group like AMC," says Shiver. "It really speaks to the need for
an organization like AMC that it is still going after 25 years."
AMC is a place for moms and dads to get together
to talk about parenting issues and to support one another. There
are a variety of groups to choose from like the new moms group,
toddler playgroup, scrapbooking, coffee talk, knitting, music for
kids, exercise group and other fun groups that change quarterly.
AMC meets Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. year round,
at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, 3195 Barnett Shoals Road. AMC
is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization and is a part of
the National Association of Mothers' Centers. Today there are more
than 100 centers in the United States with the Athens Mothers'
Center being the first in Georgia.
Dads are welcome on Fridays. Prospective members
are always welcome to drop in to discover what the Athens Mothers'
Center is all about. Childcare is provided if desired during groups
for a nominal fee. Financial assistance is available. For more
information please call (706) 552-8554 or visit www.athensmothers.org.
Jacki Gaytan is a stay at home mom to one year old Rayna. Jacki
and her family recently moved to Athens from Paw Paw, MI.
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