Review: Mom Connection: Creating Vibrant Relationships in the Midst of Motherhood by Tracey Bianchi

Each year MOPS International (Mothers of PreSchoolers--an evangelical ministry to moms of young children) has a theme that each MOPS chapter structures their program around.  This year's theme is "Plunge: Diving Deeper with God, Family & Friends."  We have spent the fall looking at how to be more intentional with each of these areas of life, and have started some good conversations around these topics in our MOPS Chapter.  As the MOPS coordinator at our church this year, MOPS International sent me this book that connects with the theme.  It looked like a conversational and easy read, so I picked it up and flew through it.  While probably not the most profound or well written book I've ever read (okay, it's not), it did help me think through some good ideas and some new ways of creating connections.  With a baby who needs to be in bed by 7 and a husband who works long hours, motherhood can be lonely if one isn't intentional about creating connections with other moms (who, in my experience, are also lonely and sitting home wondering what to do with themselves and a new baby!)  One of the things Bianchi talks about that really caught my attention is the idea of "living an invitational life."  Bianchi says, "to live invitationally is to live with an eye toward connecting with others." She goes on to say that, "some of the daily elements we take for granted can profoundly move another mom to a healthier place. To live invitationally is to view our daily routines as a way to create warmth where loneliness reigns." I have always been one who thinks having people over needs to be a big production with a clean house, a home cooked meal and hours of conversation.  What I've learned this year is that it can be so much simpler than that, and so much more spontaneous.  Last minute play dates over a lunch hour where we both bring whatever is already in our fridge and let our babies crawl around a room scattered with toys or calling someone saying "want to go for a walk in an hour?" has become much easier for me.  Mom Connection has helped me look for more spontaneous moments of connection and for that, I've been really grateful.