Colts Neck Moms Group
Jackie Torre attended a gathering of the Colts Neck Moms Group last week hoping to make new friends for herself and her 17-month-old son. Torre, a stay-at-home mom who is moving from Marlboro to Middletown, said she saw an ad in the St. Mary's Church bulletin about the group and thought it would be a good place to meet local moms.
Despite her feelings of awkwardness, Torre packed up the diaper bag and took little Aidan to the Monmouth Museum in Middletown last Thursday. The museum is run by a nonprofit organization that leases space on Brookdale Community College's Lincroft campus. The group was meeting in the museum's Wonder Wing, which has an ocean-themed exhibit geared for children ages 2 to 6. "It's always hard to meet new people," Torre told the Diaper Diva while sitting in the galley of the pirate ship. "The moms seem really nice."
Kristen Ecklord, 33, gets all the credit for reviving the moms group at St. Mary's a year ago. The Matawan native said she had moved to Colts Neck 3 1/2 years ago and wanted to meet other families who lived nearby. "I said, 'There's got to be people we can meet, and have playgroups with people who live five minutes away.' "
With a little determination and help from the church, she made it happen.
The group typically meets twice a month in the church's playroom then goes to a nearby pizzeria for lunch. Ecklord, who worked in marketing before she became a stay-at-home mom to 19-month-old Carolyn, also coordinates field trips and holiday parties for the group. Mothers get a special night out once a month.
Christy Grant, 34, of Colts Neck said she likes the idea of a moms night out because it's hard to hold a conversation with someone who has to chase after their child. Grant, who is pregnant with her second child, plans to spend more time with the group while on maternity leave. She likes the flexibility the group offers: no dues, no commitment, just come when you can.
Lucille Castro of Tinton Falls is the coordinator of adult and family enrichment at the church. She was there when the moms group got started more than 20 years ago. And she has watched friendships blossom over the years as the women got to know each other.
"It's a nice way to build community," Castro said, noting that many women may not have made connections in town if they were working outside the home. Now that they are home, they want to bond with other women who are experiencing the same transition in their lives.
"This gives them a sense of extended neighborhood, and helps build community in the church," she added, quickly noting that the group is not limited to Catholics.
Tracey Kaplan, a part-time social worker who moved to Colts Neck two years ago, said there are no temples in town so she turned to this group to meet other residents.
"These are the kids that my kids will go to school with and the moms who will be in the PTA," Kaplan, 32, said as her children -- Logan, 2, and Olivia, 10 months -- played atop the pirate ship. "I thought this would be a great place to start."
Nancy Morin, 34, of Colts Neck said she had the same idea when she joined the group last winter. The former school teacher said she and her daughters -- Lindsay, 4, and Samantha, 19 months -- have made new friends and shared new experiences, like the museum.
More so, there is security in going to new places with a group of women that you trust to help look after your children. "I like knowing that there are five or six pairs of mommy eyes watching them," she said. "It made me feel a little safer as she (Lindsay) wandered around."
Torre, the 26-year-old former real estate agent, said she enjoyed her first moms group experience and plans on coming back.
"I like the idea of organized activity," she said, "and it gets us out of the house for a little while."
For more information on the Colts Neck Moms Group call Kristen Ecklord at (732) 526-7073.
To learn more about upcoming parenting seminars at St. Mary's Church, call Lucille Castro at (732) 780-7343 ext. 23.
More info on the Monmouth Museum is located at its Web site: www.monmouthmuseumorg.
Please note that children over age 2 are charged the same price as adults - $7. Unlike some other children's museums, there are no reserved hours for free admission.
Despite her feelings of awkwardness, Torre packed up the diaper bag and took little Aidan to the Monmouth Museum in Middletown last Thursday. The museum is run by a nonprofit organization that leases space on Brookdale Community College's Lincroft campus. The group was meeting in the museum's Wonder Wing, which has an ocean-themed exhibit geared for children ages 2 to 6. "It's always hard to meet new people," Torre told the Diaper Diva while sitting in the galley of the pirate ship. "The moms seem really nice."
Kristen Ecklord, 33, gets all the credit for reviving the moms group at St. Mary's a year ago. The Matawan native said she had moved to Colts Neck 3 1/2 years ago and wanted to meet other families who lived nearby. "I said, 'There's got to be people we can meet, and have playgroups with people who live five minutes away.' "
With a little determination and help from the church, she made it happen.
The group typically meets twice a month in the church's playroom then goes to a nearby pizzeria for lunch. Ecklord, who worked in marketing before she became a stay-at-home mom to 19-month-old Carolyn, also coordinates field trips and holiday parties for the group. Mothers get a special night out once a month.
Christy Grant, 34, of Colts Neck said she likes the idea of a moms night out because it's hard to hold a conversation with someone who has to chase after their child. Grant, who is pregnant with her second child, plans to spend more time with the group while on maternity leave. She likes the flexibility the group offers: no dues, no commitment, just come when you can.
Lucille Castro of Tinton Falls is the coordinator of adult and family enrichment at the church. She was there when the moms group got started more than 20 years ago. And she has watched friendships blossom over the years as the women got to know each other.
"It's a nice way to build community," Castro said, noting that many women may not have made connections in town if they were working outside the home. Now that they are home, they want to bond with other women who are experiencing the same transition in their lives.
"This gives them a sense of extended neighborhood, and helps build community in the church," she added, quickly noting that the group is not limited to Catholics.
Tracey Kaplan, a part-time social worker who moved to Colts Neck two years ago, said there are no temples in town so she turned to this group to meet other residents.
"These are the kids that my kids will go to school with and the moms who will be in the PTA," Kaplan, 32, said as her children -- Logan, 2, and Olivia, 10 months -- played atop the pirate ship. "I thought this would be a great place to start."
Nancy Morin, 34, of Colts Neck said she had the same idea when she joined the group last winter. The former school teacher said she and her daughters -- Lindsay, 4, and Samantha, 19 months -- have made new friends and shared new experiences, like the museum.
More so, there is security in going to new places with a group of women that you trust to help look after your children. "I like knowing that there are five or six pairs of mommy eyes watching them," she said. "It made me feel a little safer as she (Lindsay) wandered around."
Torre, the 26-year-old former real estate agent, said she enjoyed her first moms group experience and plans on coming back.
"I like the idea of organized activity," she said, "and it gets us out of the house for a little while."
For more information on the Colts Neck Moms Group call Kristen Ecklord at (732) 526-7073.
To learn more about upcoming parenting seminars at St. Mary's Church, call Lucille Castro at (732) 780-7343 ext. 23.
More info on the Monmouth Museum is located at its Web site: www.monmouthmuseumorg.
Please note that children over age 2 are charged the same price as adults - $7. Unlike some other children's museums, there are no reserved hours for free admission.
posted by Nina Rizzo at 8:29 AM
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