The New Moms' support group up at Alexandria Hospital (off seminary road I think) is on Tuesdays at 12:45pm. There is a nurse there who sort of moderates the group, and you also get a chance to go up to the lactation center and weigh your babies if you want. I've only been there twice but it's a nice chance to see other babies of slightly different stages and meet folks. The first time I went, there were around 15 babies and I found it hard to focus on any one conversation, but it's nice to be in a room where if someone burps, farts, or poops - a general approval goes up around the room. Everyone else 'gets it' as it were. They have a basket they put out for a fee of 5$ but they seem flexible, and if you don't have change you can just get them the following week. Also note, the entrance you want is for visitors, it's off to the right of the main hospital entrance -the Health Education Center. -Not nearly as clinical as it sounds. Also, if you bring your stroller, take advantage of the free parking lot across the street from the hospital instead of visitors' parking.

The Alexandria NE MOMS Club is a local chapter of MOMS International. I saw your posting for a gathering at St. Elmo's this Thursday. (I wish I could make it, but we've got a MOMS Club event that afternoon!) St. Elmo's is only a few blocks from me; if you're near here, then you're definitely eligible to join our chapter. We are open to mothers of babies and small children living in the following Alexandria zip codes: 22301, 22302, 22305, 22314. If you're in a different zip code, let me know which one and I'll give you contact information for the MOMS chapter in your area.

The club's goal is to build a supportive community of mothers with young children (newborn to kindergarten) by fostering friendships and encouraging, learning, and meeting each other's needs while providing service projects to better our community.

We have playgroups as well as a variety of other activities. Our monthly membership meetings are the last Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m., so the next one is August 31. They're held at Historic Christ Church in Old Town, 118 N. Washington Street. (At the intersection of Washington Street and Cameron; you can find directions at www.historicchristchurch.org or by calling the church at 703/549-1450.) We meet in the Meade Room, located in The Parish House.

Children are welcome at all MOMS Club activities (though our monthly Moms Night Out is geared towards mothers, not children). The club offers:

  • Monthly membership meetings with speakers, discussions, and the opportunity to socialize with other moms.
  • Play groups, organized by children's age. Each play group sets its own meeting time and place; most meet at members' houses or local parks or coffee shops.
  • A babysitting coop whose members swap babysitting hours.
  • Casual get-togethers in parks and members' homes.
  • Outings for mothers and their children including trips to the zoo, story time at local libraries and bookstores, ice cream socials, fire station tours, picnics, and visits to other local kid-friendly attractions.
  • Activities groups, such as a book club that meets monthly.
  • A monthly newsletter.
  • The Sunshine Committee, which provides a meal per day (moms volunteer to bring them) to families of members who have newborns or are facing other stressful times because of, say, illness in the family.
  • Service projects.
  • An e-mail discussion group.
  • A monthly Moms Night Out. You can bring your child if you want to, but most don't; these monthly activities are designed for mothers. Often we just meet at a restaurant for dinner. Examples of other Moms Nights Out: movies at a theatre or on DVD at someone's home, a jewelry-making evening with instructions from a member who has a jewelry-design business, crafts nights, pottery painting, and dessert parties.

If you can't make it to the August 31 meeting but are interested in learning more, I'd be happy to mail you an application and send it. Just let me know and I'll mail one to you. Dues are $25 a year, which cover club expenses such as rent for our meeting spaces, copying and mailing our newsletter, service projects, and other miscellaneous items.

The best way to get to know us is to come to our monthly meeting. Hope to see you soon!

--Cathy
VP of Membership
Alexandria-NE Moms Club

The calendar for Jennifer Moore yoga, which includes post-partum mom baby yoga, infant massage and some other things is at: http://www.moorethanyoga.com/calendarfall2004.htm on the web.

(I went to a few pre-natal yoga classes and thought she was very good. I also met a few good people there so it was well worth it, even if I didn't get to use ANY of my breathing or relaxation techniques during my birth, other than to take a deep breath and yell, "DRUGS!!" ) Also, the post-partum yoga is mainly for the mothers, but the babies can come and hang out while us moms do our stuff. It's not a hyper advanced "baby excersize" type of thing so don't worry about it being too intense.

There are a half dozen other things out there I've found including Stroller striders, Del Ray Walkers and another group that does coffee on Wednesdays so hopefully there are things that fit your schedules. I'm just picking the one or two that sound most interesting to me and trying to remind myself to "Sleep when the Baby Sleeps" otherwise.