by Andrew Jay, Tiny Trees Preschool Photos courtesy of Katrina Shelby What do you get when you remove the walls from a preschool? Short answer: mud, joy, adventure, science, nature, exercise. At Tiny Trees Preschool, we break down the walls of a traditional classroom to give families what they deserve: affordable, quality preschool to get their kids ready for kindergarten.…
Talking to Your Kids About Race (and other difficult things)
by Jasen Frelot Talking about race is among the hardest things we are called to do as parents. The very idea of it often brings up bad memories or fears of getting it wrong. But, more than ever, we know that talking to our kids about race is essential to preparing them to exist in an increasingly diverse world. Below…
How Living Abroad Changed Me, Made Me a Mother, and Birthed My Mission
by Anjelica Malone One of my earliest memories is of being nested in the sand within a little cove on a beach somewhere. Tall thin trees with thick green foliage canopies sheltered me, while a rich turquoise blue sky stretched out in front of me for as far as my little eyes could see. Though I’ve never been able to…
Let’s Go! to the Seattle Children’s Museum
At Seattle Children’s Museum: This September visitors can look forward to an entirely new month of educational programming, with the theme “Let’s Go!” We’re exploring modes of transportation more broadly than ever before, comparing the different ways we move around within our communities, region, and around the world. Transportation vehicles and human powered movement are wonderful ways to explore the physics…
When It’s Really Hard
I think I just had a true emotional breakdown. In car with Anderson. Not listening ad nauseam. Can feel my stress level reaching cataclysmic, desperate, absolutely miserable levels. I raise my voice, deep, gravelly, shaking—it doesn’t even sound like my own—desperately pleading with my 4-year-old to be quiet. I feel helpless and truly tortured. I have to leave the car.…
What Legacy Will You Create for Your Grandkids?
Grandparents at PEPS recently shared about the legacy they are creating with their children and grandchildren. Some have concrete things to give to children and grandchildren, like a historical flag, family furniture, jewelry that has been passed down, and those treasures made as a child. Others mentioned how they are sharing their experiences and passions, such as the love of travel, a love…
Prepare by Reading
When you are pregnant, it seems like suddenly everyone starts telling you how to prepare. And, in this culture, a lot of that preparation seems to involve lists of things to buy. From the relative who swore that a certain style of swing would ensure my baby would sleep (it didn’t) to the friend who bought me a version of…
The rewards of leading a newborn PEPS group
Leading daytime newborn groups has given me the opportunity to meet and be part of many families’ lives over the past 4 years (nearly 100 in fact!). Sitting with moms once a week for 2 hours keeps my own perspective on parenting fresh, and also lets me help other moms. I like to focus on moms (versus dads or couples)…
Our year of reflection, learning and change: 2016 Annual Impact Report
by Jessica Lawmaster, Executive Director Simply put, we need each other. Our health and wellness are strongly linked to our ability to build relationships with one another. If there is ever a time where the need for connection cannot be automated or overlooked, it is when a parent welcomes a new baby to the world. At PEPS, we connect families…
Interview with Kristin Kali, LM CPM, MAIA Midwifery and Fertility
This post was originally published by Perinatal Support Washington and has been edited for length. Kristin Kali, LM CPM, is a licensed midwife who provides care for “all families, all family structures, genders, and orientations,” with a focus on LGBTQ families through her practice MAIA Midwifery & Fertility. What’s unique about her practice compared to conventional medical/fertility clinics is the…
