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…
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)…
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…
PEPS launches overhaul of its volunteer experience By Shawna Gamache PEPS reaches more than 3,000 families a year in living rooms across the greater Seattle area. At the center of every meeting is a volunteer PEPS leader, guiding new parents through early conversations and coaxing them into community. PEPS is making life easier for the volunteers who are key to…
When you attend your first PEPS meeting, I think it’s natural to come in with a bit of anxiety – not sure what to expect and not sure who you will meet. You try your best to “come as you are” but at the same time, trying to impress…a little. Do you measure up to the other parents? Will they…
Mike Schloss knows about parent support and the importance of community. Before he became a stay at home dad, he worked at Treehouse, a local organization that provides much needed support to foster children in Washington. When his daughter was born, Mike joined PEPS for Dads. Later, he joined Baby Peppers. He was the only dad in this daytime group…
Here’s the deal: We need each other. Yes, we human beings need one another to be healthy and to thrive. Brené Brown defines connection this way: “connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” Thanks to…
by Jessica Towns Last summer, I took my daughter Ravenna to a toddler gym class. Children were clambering like termites over elaborate play structures, each with an anxious parent on the floor below. Ravenna ran fearlessly into the action and began to narrate every detail. “Climb stairs…throw orange ball…my turn…jump?!” A father in the class turned to me and said,…
by Meghan McMackin This is a four-part story in which I recount the miraculous tale of how parenting cured me of perfectionism, and how, through photography I’ve come to embrace the beauty of the present imperfect. Part 1: The PLAN Before our first child was born, I did everything I possibly could to prepare. I took my prenatals, read…
PEPS is closing our doors March 8 and joining with many other organizations, businesses, and individuals who are participating in A Day Without a Woman. We honor women everywhere, including those we employ and serve, and we stand in solidarity with those seeking gender justice and equality in Seattle, the State of Washington, America, and across the world.
