Cookeville Mother’s Day Out Celebrates 50 Years

First Baptist Church Cookeville Mother’s Day Out program celebrates 50 years of operation this month.

The twice-a-week program teaches children the bible while preparing them for kindergarten. Program’s Co-Director Linda Huddleston said that in her 35 years of serving, she has focused on children’s needs.

“We are now seeing families who, uh, when I first started I taught in the classroom for 10 years and so we’re seeing families who uh, were children when they came here who are now parents and bringing their children here,” Huddleston said.

Huddleston said the program has grown over the past 50 years but they have stuck to teaching the bible through it all. First Baptist Church Cookeville will host a celebration of the program Saturday from 11am-2pm.

Huddleston said she and Co-Director Patricia Mabry look forward to featuring pictures and sharing memories with families and former students. The event will have bounce houses, food, face painting, and carnival games.

“It’ll be just fun to catch up with the parents and kids and to celebrate, all the memories we’ve made with them,” Huddleston said.

Huddleston said that each classroom has a schedule which includes, outside time, music time, academics, and circle time. Huddleston said they teach their kids a biblical foundation at a young age.

“Teaching these children that Jesus loves them is our number one, um, thing that we stand upon, and then um as they grow and get into the preschool rooms, you know then we start working on the academics to prepare them for school,” Huddleston said.

Huddleston said the program is good for moms who need some time to run errands or work but want to allow their kids to just be kids and play at home before having to go to elementary school.