For her first several Mother’s Days as a mom, Shawna Gamache found herself ending the day in tears. The pressure to engineer a perfect day took away from her ability to get what she actually needed on that day – and throughout the year. Read Shawna’s advice for a dry-eyed Mother’s Day.
Mental health, schoolwork, sexuality, substances – parenting an adolescent can be overwhelming. Now, imagine navigating these challenges in an unfamiliar culture without access to support and resources in your native language. PEPS partners with Sistema Escolar USA to offer Parents of Adolescents and Teens (PAT) Groups for Spanish-speaking parents. Read about how we’ve collaborated to support families in a meaningful, culturally relevant way.
Did you know that play is a fundamental building block of childhood development? Read our latest blog post to learn about how play can support your baby’s cognitive, physical and social emotional development. Plus, find out how PEPS Sponsor the Heybrook is creating a purposeful space to stimulate your infant’s development through play.
When you think of leaving your legacy, you may think of grand accomplishments or your family’s special memories of your life. But have you thought about your estate plan? Estate planning isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy – it’s simply a process of making decisions and filing documents to prepare for the end of your life. Your estate plan is an important way to leave your legacy – especially for parents! Check out our recent blog article from PEPS Sponsor Gebhardt Law Office to learn more.
Whether your kiddo knows their future calling as soon as they can talk or it takes them a little longer to figure out their education and career goals, starting an education savings plan early is never a bad idea! Hear from a parent who started WA529 education savings plans for her children early and watched their dreams blossom over the years!
What do teens and toddlers have in common? They’re seeking autonomy, dealing with big feelings, and experiencing rapid brain growth, to name a few! If daily battles with your adolescent child feel like déjà vu, parent educator Beth Goss has some wisdom and advice to share about this phase of parenthood.
“Advocacy seemed like something that activists and lobbyists do. But I’ve realized that legislators want to hear from those of us doing the work of parenting day in and day out. I’ve also realized that advocating helps me to feel less isolated and more purposeful as a parent, connecting me to like-minded people and translating some of the hard work of parenting into societal progress.” Read about two local moms who are sharing their experiences and motivating other parents to get involved with advocacy work.
The toddler years are full of big feelings. If you’re dealing with tantrums and power struggles, read these tips from PEPS Sponsor Allegro Pediatrics on helping toddlers identify, communicate, and work through their feelings.
Check out our five most popular articles published on our Highs and Lows Blog in 2023!
If you’ve ever felt like you’re trying to decipher a foreign language when reading about advocacy and the legislative process, you’re not alone. As PEPS prepares to engage in another WA State Legislative Session, we want to help our community learn more about this important work to support children and families! Check out our recent blog post for a glossary of advocacy terms to reference as we head into the 2024 Legislative Session.