Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Chapman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was new to the area, no friends, four kids in tow with the oldest a teenager and the youngest only a year old. I felt totally alone and in need of a community, a much needed break from my children, the support of other mamas, to know I was not alone. I was desperate, but not just for superficial relationships but for real, vulnerable and nonjudgmental friends, other mamas in the trenches, mamas of all ages and stages of motherhood. I couldn’t find anything like it, so I felt led to start something, a weekly meeting that would create authentic relationships while educating, spoiling and celebrating the importance and recognizing the difficulties of motherhood. Once a week self-care for mamas, a spa for the mamas soul, a chance for mamas to put their oxygen masks on first. Mastering Motherhood started with only seven mamas meeting weekly but quickly grew to over 198 mamas registered in three years. I could not stand to see mamas turned away as the original location met its capacity, it was obvious this was a need in more communities. I took the leap of faith and developed the training videos, curriculum, website, social media (@mastering.motherhood on IG and @masteringmotherhoodmamas on Facebook), recruited top speakers, researched phenomenal authors on parenting and woman related book studies, developed the consulting and the online portal to support other churches in outreaching and supporting mamas in their community too, through starting a Mastering Motherhood. The number of locations is growing and I pray, God willing, overtime every mama around the United States has the opportunity to be loved, spoiled, encouraged and educated as a mama, to fully embrace the importance of motherhood and experience the support and community that comes from attending Mastering Motherhood. “Motherly’s 2020 State of Motherhood survey found that 89% of moms said that our society does not do a good job of supporting mothers.” Mastering Motherhood is here to change that statistic, it was created for such a time as this.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The greatest struggle along the way has certainly been Covid. Mastering Motherhood is a community and the pandemic prohibited that community for a time, but I am so thankful Mastering Motherhood survived. The mission is too important and the need is too great. Mamas needed more support than ever in the pandemic with quarantining and their children virtual learning, I am thankful for the original Mastering Motherhood churches who saw the importance of this mission and supported Mastering Motherhood and the mamas by staying the course and meeting the mamas needs even if it was virtually through those unprecedented times. Now all the meetings are back in full swing in person and I am so grateful that the pandemic did not stop mamas getting the support they needed during that difficult time. Coming out the other side of this struggle, it is more evident than ever how much mamas need Mastering Motherhood. The struggle to run something like this is real, but the testimonies of the mamas, the difference it is making in strengthening families and the lives changed makes it all worth it.
Mothers from all ages and stages of life come together to support and encourage one other. I loved being able to share my questions and concerns as well as my own experiences with fellow mothers in a safe and judge free environment.” “The food, the fellowship, the support and love. But the main thing is I feel it’s SAFE!! No gossip or judgement. I love this because it’s unlike any other group I’ve been in!” “The sense of acceptance of any mama no matter their background, beliefs, whether they could make it every week, etc. Everyone was so kind and friendly” “I love that myself and other moms leave smiling and are filled with such Joy. I love the sense of community and look forward to every week!” “I like having a place my kids can enjoy going to just as much as I do!” “Mastering Motherhood is an oasis in the week. It nudges me to think more intentionally about my parenting, connects me with great women and is a needed perspective reminder in the week.” “The mamas, the free childcare, the speakers, the food, the books, all of it makes Mastering Motherhood my favorite day of the week!” “Everyone belongs here. Doesn’t matter who you are, or what your story is, Mastering Motherhood is like a warm hug every week. Friendships are authentic, speakers are encouraging with so much wisdom.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have the honor of offering Mastering Motherhood as a tool that churches can utilize to serve and outreach to their community. My favorite part of this work is the phenomenal people I get to work with, whether speakers, authors, pastors, church staff or volunteer directors and leadership, they have such incredible hearts to serve and love their community, they are the difference makers. I love doing the director and leadership trainings to help prepare volunteers to serve all the mamas that walk through their doors, mamas of all ages and stages of motherhood, mamas from all walks of life, with different backgrounds, opinions or beliefs, with different circumstances or situation in their lives, there is a place for all mamas at Mastering Motherhood. In the world, these differences may create division, at Mastering Motherhood, we all have the common denominator of being a mama and wanting what is best for our families which draws us together. Mastering Motherhood creates a safe place to listen and be heard in a non judgemental environment, to be real and vulnerable and know you are not alone, for every mama to walk through the doors to feel unconditionally loved and accepted for who they are. Plus it is SO much fun, Mastering Motherhood is a weekly party that celebrates mamas and it soon becomes mamas favorite day of the week! Mamas often say how they can not imagine doing the job of motherhood without Mastering Motherhood and many will drive over an hour to attend!
Mamas will drive this far because Mastering Motherhood actively encourages mamas and tangibly shows them their value, so they feel appreciated. Our society does not do a good job of showing motherhood as important through training, pay, appreciation, perks or even job title. Mastering Motherhood wants to change this undervalued perception of motherhood, so every mama knows without a doubt, their true worth, the importance of their job, to be prepared and equipped with tools to do an exceptional job and be surrounded by an amazing and real community that is lifting them up, so they can joyfully and proudly declare that they are a mama!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Mamas need community! Motherhood is extremely isolating and the pandemic amplified that as mamas are turning to social media to meet their needs and sadly are becoming more isolated and depressed. “Researchers have found that using social media obsessively causes more than just anxiety. In fact, testing has found that using too much internet can cause depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), impulsive disorder, problems with mental functioning, paranoia, and loneliness. It is more than just the pressure of sharing things with others, it is also about how you may be comparing your life with others you see on social media. Many people see that someone on social media who has a great job, excellent husband, and beautiful home and they feel happy for them. But, others can feel jealous, depressed, or may even feel suicidal about their own life if it is not as “perfect” as those they see on social media.”* “Motherly’s 2019 State of Motherhood survey found that 85% of moms said that our society does not do a good job of supporting mothers.”* This crisis has only heightened my awareness of the need to outreach to mamas who have been isolated and alone in this extremely difficult time and give them an opportunity to find community and experience a greater hope, joy and value in their job as a mother than they ever realized existed. Mastering Motherhood is for such a time as this! I hope there is a Mastering Motherhood located near you, but if not, please click this link and fill in the attached form to learn how to start a Mastering Motherhood in your community, https://www.masteringmotherhood.com/starting-a-mastering-motherhood
*Anxiety And Depression Association Of America. (2018, November). Social Media Obsession and Anxiety. Retrieved August 5, 2019, from https://adaa.org/social-media-obsession
*Motherly. (2019, May 3). Motherly’s 2019 State of Motherhood survey results. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@masteringmotherhood.com
- Website: https://www.masteringmotherhood.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastering.motherhood/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masteringmotherhoodmamas
- Other: https://www.masteringmotherhood.com/starting-a-mastering-motherhood
Image Credits
Julie Powell at https://www.rocklandstudiosphoto.com Karen Alquist at http://www.alquistphoto.com
