FAQ
The Answers You Need
What is MOMS Club?
MOMS Club is the first and only organization dedicated to supporting mothers who choose to stay at home with their children. We are not affiliated with any religion, lifestyle choices, race, or parenting philosophy.
MOMS Club is a non-profit corporation and a 501 (C) (3) publicly supported charity, registered with the IRS. We represent an international network of support groups for all at-home mothers (full or part time) that has over 2000 chapters and 100,000+ members. We have oversight and support from our mother organization, the International MOMS Club, we are lead by an elected board, and complete at least one service project yearly that benefits mothers and/or children.
Our chapter was created when a mother made the difficult decision to give up her full-time job to stay home with her babies, and didn't find the support and friendships she was hoping for. We meet during daylight hours during the week, when at-home moms need the support the most.
What is an at-home mother?
It’s pretty impossible to draw a line between at-home mothers and working mothers — indeed, it’s never been that simple. Many of our members do work for pay. Probably more than half do something that the Department of Labor considers makes them “working moms.” They work part time, they work in family businesses (often without pay), they work at home or they work out of the home full-time in schedules that allow them to be home with their children during the day. Mothers are very creative at how they afford to stay home to be with their children.
Because of that, it’s not easy to define what a working mother is. But, an at-home mother is one who is taking care of her children, herself. She may have help from family or part-time sitters or preschool, but overall, she has arranged her schedule to be able to raise her children, at-home, herself.
So does this mean you are only open to stay-at-home moms?
No, as per our bylaws, membership in the chapter is open to any mother in our designated geographic area.
What do you mean by "support group"?
If the phrase "support group" makes you cringe inside... If it makes you think of a group of strangers sitting in a circle talking, with their only connection being a shared problem... stop! This is not that!
Our "support group" provides support to at-home mothers by creating a space for social interaction, friendships, and shared interests and activities, all while acknowledging that moms often come as a package deal with their children!
What Makes MOMS Club different from all the other moms groups?
MOMS Club is different because we are first and foremost for YOU. For MOMS. Yes, it is a wonderful benefit that our children get to play together, and that they make new friends and have something to keep them entertained... but the purpose of MOMS Club is not to facilitate play dates or keep the children engaged. This group focuses on the needs of MOTHERS. The connection, stimulation, support, and friendship that at-home mothers crave, but may have a hard time finding. Mama, you spend so much time and energy on those babies, but what do YOU want to do today? What are YOU interested in? Let's get together and chat about that!
Are my children really always welcome?
Yes! Your children are absolutely always welcome, with one exception. We try to keep the monthly "moms night out" and/or "moms night in" a night off for moms, so we advise nursing infants only, depending on the activity! Otherwise, all children are welcome, and we expect them to be there as an extension of you! There will not be childcare, but we try to provide an atmosphere where the children are entertained. And don't worry, Mama, we're all mothers too, and we DO NOT expect kids to sit quietly!
Can I still attend events even if my children are in school?
Absolutely! Remember, MOMS Club is for moms! That's part of what separates us from play groups!
When do you meet?
Since we are a new chapter, we do not have a designated monthly business meeting or monthly board meeting schedule yet.
Our meetings and activities will primarily take place during the day, as this is when at-home mothers need support the most.
We do have one monthly Moms Night Out or Moms Night In, and may occasionally offer a family-friendly activity on the weekends.
Do I have to attend every event/meeting/activity?
No. Your activity level in the club is your personal choice - Your needs, your schedule, and the needs of your children/family will likely vary from time to time, and you can always adjust your involvement to fit your life!
How much does it cost to join?
The annual dues are $25/year. However, we will never turn a mother away due to financial hardship!
Since we are a non-profit, we follow very specific guidelines from the International MOMS Club and the IRS regarding what our money can be used for. Our dues cover the expenses of operating our club, help support our service projects, and cover our chapter's annual dues to MOMS Club International.
How do I join?
Please email our Membership VP at momsclubofwhidbey@gmail.com with the subject "Membership."
We encourage all prospective members to attend an event before becoming members, both to get a glimpse of our chapter and also to protect the safety of our members and children.
If your question was not included or addressed in this FAQ section or you would simply like more information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at momsclubofwhidbey@gmail.com. You can also check out our Facebook page for more information.