When I first walked into a MUMs (Mothers Uniting Mothers) meeting at the Los Altos Methodist Church in Los Altos last September it wasn’t without some trepidation.

I’m not a very religious person and I didn’t know what to expect. I spotted a group of women chatting happily around a well-stocked breakfast table. They all clutched paper cups of coffee and for everyone who looked a bit nervous to be there, there was someone who was relaxed and delighted to be greeting the newcomers.

I was definitely one of the nervous ones, but within minutes someone found me a cup of coffee, a slice of cake, and had introduced me to three new people. The thing that struck me that day—and every other meeting since then—is that how nice everyone is in this group. I’ve never met a more welcoming and supportive group of women.

Which is a good thing because that is what MUMs is all about.

We’re here to offer each other support and friendship through the ups and downs of parenting young (and sometimes not-so-young) families. We come together every other Wednesday morning, after dropping off our children at childcare, to hear wonderful speakers spark our imaginations and our conversations. We learn, talk, laugh, and yes, sometimes cry, then we go home, feeling refreshed and connected, knowing that we’re not alone on our parenting journey.

I’m no longer one of the nervous ones at the meetings. I’m one of the ones who cheerfully greet newcomers. I find them coffee and treats and then make sure they’ve been introduced to others.

We hope you’ll come see for yourself. If you’re a mom, come to our kick-off meeting in September. You don’t need to be a member of the church, a LAUMC Children’s Center parent, or even a Methodist (or religious at all!). We love and welcome all moms.

For more information about MUMs and the speakers we will be hosting this year, please visit: www.laumc.org/ministries/adults/parents.html.