Dana Callahan, wife, and mother of two, has lived in the Tampa area since the early 1970's. She has been collecting all sorts of "when I'm a mommy" items for her future children since she was a child. All thru middle school and high school she babysat each weekend, enjoying the fun of playing with children. By college, her focus changed to education. She graduated from the University of South Florida with honors and a degree in Elementary Education. She also has college hours in the field of child development, nursing and secondary education.
Upon graduation and remaining in Tampa, Dana continued to work at a school supply warehouse, her employer during her college years, as manager of their retail shop. As manager, she learned about the educational materials available to teachers, as well as, parents. Her favorite part of her job was planning and implementing workshops for teachers on new educational products. There was also that thrill of smelling the new boxes of crayons and pencils while stocking the shelves!
By the late 1980's, Dana moved to Pinellas County to enjoy the outdoor recreation the area had to offer. She bought her house and worked as a server at the local pizza shop. She did this for several years, enjoying the company and conversation of the regular customers. All the while, "saving up" on all the good and fun things a mom would have (unique toys, a pig lamp, a baby quilt hand made by her own mother, stickers, cool paper) for her furture child.
During these years, as a volunteer, she produced and hosted a public access program called THE EDUCATIONAL EXPRESS. In her first year, she won first place for Educational Programming. Her program ran for two years. The show covered topics such as "Kitchen Science Experiments," "Outdoor Fun," "Holidays of February," "Birds," "The Five Senses" and many other shows for various age groups.
Dana married in her mid-thirties, still thinking of children of her own. In May 1998, her first child was born. All the dreaming and hoping and saving up on the "good and fun things" were just a glimmer of the reality of being a new mom...A STAY AT HOME MOM. Where did her life go? The excitement and challenges of being an independent and productive member of society were gone. When her daughter was 6 months old, Dana approached her church about offering a playgroup for new moms. It was approved and Learn N Play began 2 months later.
It started with just two other moms and three babies. After some time and prayers, the group grew. All the past experiences of pre-motherhood were forming into an outlet for a support network for new mothers. All the saved literature about child development and activities for children were pulled from the closet and put into use. Learn N Play offered weekly meetings for mothers of children age 0-18 months. Dana still runs into the mothers from that group from time to time and hears "I'm still friends with (such and such) and we still see each other every week." Even then, the idea of Mommy's Cozy Corner was growing in her head.
When Dana's daughter was just over two years old, Dana attended her first MOPS meeting. She had been to EVERY story time, every park, every free children's function, but this was her first MOPS meeting. The children were left in the tender care of the nursery attendants while the moms went upstairs ALONE! No diaper bag on the arm, no hand to hold, no sippy cups in sight! When Dana walked into the room, she was almost brought to tears. What could have caused such a reaction? ........
TABLE CLOTHES AND CENTER PIECES.
Yes, the simple act of a nice table was all it took for her to remember SHE WAS A PERSON, not "just a Mommy." It had been over two years since she had done something that did not include her child. It was in that moment her dream place was rooted and no longer a mere idea.
Reluctantly, Learn N Play came to end as her daughter started Kindergarten. As much as she enjoyed her time with Learn N Play, it was time to move to the next step of mothering. So the next year was spent in a kindergarten classroom as a volunteer. Oh, that was FUN!
At the ripe young age of 43, Dana became pregnant with her 2nd child, a boy. He was born in February 2005. Her first-born was now in first grade and Dana was starting over. Even her daughter kept insisting, "When will you start Learn N Play again?" So with a leap of faith in our Lord, the experience behind her, and an unsettled dream, MOMMY'S COZY CORNER, INC was formed. The lease was signed in mid January 2007 and the adventure of starting a business (and tending to family, too) began.
Dana hopes to reach the souls of the women who enter, just as hers was touched at her first MOPS meeting. She wants the mothers to feel the joy of motherhood, but take time to relax and remember who they were before they were MOMMY.
In June 2008 MCC closed the indoor playroom due to family health reasons, but in August 2008, playdates for the local area mothers began. Kick Start to Kindergarten was such a successful class, that it will continue to be offered at Dana's home.
