Escape to an Organization that Can Keep You Connected

Whenever I meet a new or expecting mom and she asks for a piece of advice, I don’t give her the cliché:  “It goes so fast!” or “Sleep!!!”  I try to tell her to get out there and meet other moms. And if this mom is local, I tell her to join St. Michael-Albertville ECFE.

ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) is a “special place for parents and their young children under the age of 5. It is a place where you meet new friends; share the joys and challenges of parenting while children have a safe and supportive environment to play with others.” (Taken from the ECFE website.)

The STMA ECFE program offers 28 weekly classes throughout the year for moms (and dads) to join and meet other parents with same-aged children. Though a majority of the classes are during the day, they currently have six (with some openings) in the evenings. Since September 2010, Deb Spencer reports that almost 1500 children have participated in ECFE programming (whether that is in classes, special events, field trips or sibling care).

The cost to attend the classes is priced at an on-your-honor sliding scale fee and there are always scholarships available to families who need assistance if they contact director Deb Spencer.

For the past nearly four years I have looked forward to ECFE each week, first with my son, Henry (4) and now with my daughter, Evelyn (2). While they have parent/child classes you can take where you stay together the entire class time, my favorite classes have been the ones where the parent/child time is 45 minutes of playing and reading books and even a craft or two and then 45 minutes where the parents have discussion in another room with a parent educator. (Meanwhile, our kids are having snack, playing in the gym and making fun, messy crafts you’d never allow at home with two teachers.)

It is in those 45 minutes where we parents can connect with others without the distraction of our kids hanging on our leg or pulling us away from a conversation that we really can get down to business.

There has been so much I have taken away from these 45 minute discussions. Tips for potty training or birthday party ideas, new books I can’t wait to read or ideas for battling that next big thing. When you’re surrounded by 9 other parents in the same place you are, you tend to learn a lot whether your child is in the thick of the terrible twos or it’s on the horizon, or perhaps you’re the wise one who can pass on the advice from the most recent go at it.

Regardless of all the lessons (both big and small) I’ve taken away from ECFE, the biggest reward of all has been the friendships I’ve made. Both of my kids have made great friends in class that they look forward to seeing and I, in turn, have also made great friends.

Some moms have found this kind of kinship in Mom’s Club or MOPS at local churches and while I have little to no experience with those, I’ve found that ECFE was my connection and the way that felt comfortable to branch out and meet new moms and inherently, make great friends. Making ECFE one of my great escapes each week.

Registration for spring classes is still open and as of this week, there were still 62 openings in parent/child classes. Visit stmacommunityed.com for class information and availability.