Mother's helper

East Rockaway center puts mom's needs first.

    Being a mother in today's society is one of the most
rewarding jobs, yet at the same time, one of the scariest. Mothers are constantly questioning themselves. Are they spoiling their newborn by holding her too often ? Are they disciplining their toddler too much or too little? Have they instilled the proper values in their child to ensure that the right decisions will be made when faced with the pressures of adolescence? 
      While mothers are wondering if they are doing their job to the best of their ability, it is comforting to know that there is a local center where they can turn for reassurance; the Mother's Center of Southwest Nassau located on Main Street in East Rockaway.
   The mother's center is a place where moms can come and share the many feelings of being a mother," said East Rockaway resident Anne Russin, who has been a member for four years. "It provides relief from the isolation many mothers experience and can help to take the place of the vanishing extended family."
      The center offers a multitude of services such as "Mommy and Me" programs, two, three, and four-year-old nursery school programs, and discussion groups for mothers. The center's nursery school classes are small in number which enables both the teacher and the classroom assistant to give the students individualized attention. The main goals of the younger classes are for the students to feel comfortable about separating from their parents, to develop social skills and to discover that school is fun.
      Three-year-old nursery school teacher, Terry Schinasi said that she "wants her kids to wake up in the morning and want to go to school. "I want this to be a positive experience for them," she said.
      While in school, the children learn how to interact with one
another by sharing art supplies and taking turns on the big wheels and toy cars available during playtime in the gymnasium. As the nicer weather approaches, the students will get the opportunity to play outdoors in the playground which the Mother's Center is able to provide and is very proud of.
      The mission of the National Association of Mothers' Centers
is to enable members to be effective in using their individual and collective knowledge and experiences as a catalyst for personal and societal changes that benefit mothers of families. In 1973 a social worker expressed concern about the high proportion of women who described pregnancy and the first few years of child-rearing as a profound struggle marked by conflict, uncertainty, and diminished self-esteem and self-confidence. The concern led to a research project involving fifty women who met to discuss this problem and possible solutions. The women concluded that the meetings themselves had been both educational and therapeutic and this conclusion resulted in the first Mothers' Center, formed under the auspices of the Family Service Association of South Nassau County. The not-for-profit, non-sectarian organization now has chapters throughout the United States and Europe, all run by volunteer members. 
        "The Mother's Center is run by mothers, for mothers," said Russin. "When I first heard about the Mother's Center, I could not believe there was a place like this, where mothers could meet other moms in discussion groups, talk openly and feel supported while their children were cared for in a loving childcare playroom. It's a great place to meet new friends and exchange ideas."
      The Mother's Center has a calendar year that runs from
September to June and it is divided into four cycles of eight weeks each. During each cycle there are numerous discussion groups available, but each member must begin by being a part of a transition group where childbirth experiences and adapting to motherhood are just some of the topics discussed. Upon completion of this session, there are in-depth discussion groups where emotional and physical issues are discussed, as well as in-law and toddler issues. There are approximately six groups available to choose from each cycle and, as the need arises, new discussion groups are created. When groups are in session, the center provides childcare so mothers have the opportunity to experience some uninterrupted adult conversation.
      Member and group facilitator Erin Reddy says that "it is a very rewarding experience to make a difference in another's life. When
you are a part of the group there is a feeling that comes over you that is very soothing and serene."
             For further information, call (516) 599-7788 or visit the website at www.motherscenter.org.