new parent – Highs and Lows

PEPS: Expectation Vs. Reality

Before participating in a PEPS Group, many people believe PEPS is just another parenting class. In reality, PEPS is so much more than that. It’s a space to build community, have real, raw conversations, and connect with other parents going through the same phase of life. Archana Agrawal shares her experience in a PEPS Newborn Group and how her expectations changed after joining a group.

Feeling a loss of identity after bringing home baby? Here’s one way to find it.

Becoming a parent can trigger a major shift in identity. As your schedule and priorities change, often your core values realign as well. Brie Backus, a Leadership & Fulfillment Coach, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and PEPS supporter and sponsor, works with her clients to take stock of their values and find ways to lean into those values in daily life as a parent. Read her tips for identifying your values on our blog.

Dear Brand New Mom: What I Forgot

Dear Brand New Mom, I recently cared for my 4 month old nephew for an extended time period. Although I’ve had my own children, I was still a little nervous; would I remember what to do? Every baby is so different, would the tricks that worked on my kids work on him? How would the day go? It’s been over…

The Confident, Perfect Mother

By the time my daughter Ravenna was seven weeks old, I had mastered parenting. Confident in my ability to meet her needs, I decided it was time for our first mother-daughter day out. A local outdoor mall boasted a beautiful new women’s lounge with ample space to nurse and change diapers. Perfect. I packed the kitchen sink into the diaper…

Catching your breath at the magical half-year mark

I am so close I can almost taste it. To having a baby with three (somewhat predictable) naps. A baby who can sometimes nap without being on me. A baby who can sit up on her own but can’t yet get away from me. A baby I can wear on my back, leave on her tummy for a minute, sit next to me on the carpet…

What it’s really like: To leave the house with a newborn

It’s impossible to understand how scary it is until it happens to you. There you sit, staring at the door, huge bag fully packed, tiny newborn in your arms wearing her seventh clean outfit of the morning. You finally made it happen. So why can’t you walk out that door?

Ask the Parenting Coach – Aggressive Behavior

Get your parenting questions answered by parent educator Sarina Behar Natkin, LICSW. This month, Sarina gives tips on how to handle aggressive behavior.

A picnic at the beach

Don’t let the summer pass you by without taking advantage of the warm evenings. Head to a nearby beach park to soak in the views. There’s fun to be had for the whole family!

Preschool 101: Finding the right fit for your child

By Sarina Behar Natkin I remember the moment I realized preschool had become a very big deal. My oldest daughter was about three months old and we were at the first session of a parent-infant class. I was desperate to get out of the house and meet other parents of infants. I walked in and sat down on the mat across…