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"Family
Time" (8/21/04)
By Joey Swanson The Louisville Times, Lafayette News, Erie Review, Superior Observer Local
parent, chid teams find happiness through 'Moxie'
Being
a stay-at-home mother has its benefits for parents and their
children. However, as Jonna Needle, Kelsey Roberts and
Michelle Brandon learned, finding other in the same situation, in the
same area can be difficult. When Roberts became pregnant, she
made the decision to leave her job and dedicate her days and nights to
motherhood. At the time, she was confident that meeting other
mother and child teams around Boulder County would be a breeze. Not
true. "Turns out, for about a year and a half I couldn't find anybody,"
Roberts said. Then, along came Susan Lavelle and her creation ...
Moxie Moms. For
Lavelle, the decision to create a group where mothers and their
children could share time together with others was a logical
step. She also was beginning her journey into motherhood and did
not want the added responsibilities of a job. So, Lavelle
explored her interest in pre- and post-natal care. Soon, she
created Moxie Moms. Today, the local group boasts 375 members. So,
why is the group so successful? For
starters, it is the only group of its kind in the area. Lavelle
offers multiple activities Monday through Saturday for mothers and
their children to enjoy. The activities provide great networking
opportunities and even offer financial incentives through the
cooperation of local retail, fitness and activity centers providing
discounts to group members. "We
created buying power for moms," Lavelle said. Moxie
Moms can take advantage of the financial discounts offered at locales
such as the Boulder Running Company, Grand Rabbits and the WOW! --
World of Wonder -- Children's Museum. Through
her affiliation with Moxie Moms, Lafayette resident Michelle Brandon
recently enjoyed a four-week pilates class offered in Longmont.
Brandon said she liked the class because it took place at a convenient
location with other Moxie Moms. In addition, Brandon said Lavelle
is willing to work with any business that members feel should be
included in offering discounts. Although
moms can enjoy a wealth of activities on their own, the majority of
Moxie Moms events and activities are designed to be enjoyed by parents
and their children. For example, hikes around the Boulder area
are popular with Moxie Moms because of the many trails and the diverse
scenery. The
group members also take part in walks, swims, lunches and sing-along
activities held in a variety of cities. Louisville resident
Needle and her children recently participated in a trip to the Denver
Zoo. While Brandon said she and her son are busy learning Spanish
together. They also complement their language lessons with
regular hikes. "The
great thing is, she (Lavelle) always has a couple of good activities
planned each day. Susan just has an incredible amount of energy,"
Brandon added. Because
of Lavelle's energy and the quick success of Moxie Moms, the group is
starting to see some changes. For starters, Moxie Moms no longer
seems to be just for mothers. "We're starting to have more and
more dads attending," and Lavelle confirms, "Dads are always welcome,"
she said. And
with more fathers seeking what Moxie Moms has to offer, the group's
popularity is expanding with a new chapter starting in Fort Collins. Lavelle
couldn't help but laugh recently when a mother who is assisting her in
the opening of the Fort Collins group asked if she should make
arrangements for childcare. Lavelle responded by saying, a job
like this should never come to that. "The
best part of it is, I love it, I absolutely love it," Lavelle said. To
take part in Moxie Moms in Boulder County, a one-year membership costs
$50. A discount is offered for two or more moms joining together. For
more
information, visit www.moxie-moms.com * Reprinted with permission. Colorado Hometown Newspapers 2004. * Susan Lavelle can be reached at
303-413-0852 or 1-888-MXI-MOMS, or by e-mail at susan@moxie-moms.com.
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