Raising children in the suburbs during the pandemic is hard.
It’s especially difficult for women, who often bear the greatest burden.
Even women working in the mental health field have found themselves anxious, uncertain and alone.
Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill has spent her life bringing people together. Now she’s doing it again — specifically, for women in the maternal mental health space.
The other night, a group of mostly solo entrepreneurs and practitioners gathered at Nômade.
The goal was to share lessons learned during COVID, network, forge partnerships — and realize that as they manage the many physical and emotional transitions of parenthood, they’re not alone.
Hill has the chops to do all that. A Massachusetts native and motherhood coach, she moved here with her husband and young children in 2013.
When her husband was transferred from London to New York, a colleague told him to check out Westport. “It’s a kid’s mecca,” the co-worker said.
The Hills were not disappointed. They drove from the airport to Compo Beach, fell in love with the playground, and never looked anywhere else.
In 2017 Hill started The Parent Collective. Its classes, support groups and coaching sessions support mothers at all stages.
Her latest venture — the result of a conversation with Dana Czuczka, a certified lactation consultant — drew about 15 women. Another dozen or so were interested, but (perhaps because they are working mothers) unavailable.
The group included OB/GYNs, a pelvic floor specialist, yoga teacher, acupuncture and wellness experts, and family, couples and sex therapists.
Jessica Hill’s group, at Nomade.
They described the loneliness of working alone, and the overwhelming feelings of parenthood. They discussed ways to work together holistically, through referrals and projects.
“There are mothers raising children who have never had playdates,” Hill says, referring to the coronavirus’ collateral damage. “But the mothers are isolated too. People just want to feel connected now.”
After the meeting, several participants said they’d hesitated to come. “They were tired. They just wanted to put on sweatpants and watch TV,” Hill says.
“But they all said they were glad they came. They met old friends, and made new ones. They felt energized.
“We’re all juggling lots of plates. It takes a lot to get motivated, and out the door. But this is really important.”
Hill says the group will meet quarterly. Several women have already offered to host meetings at their workplaces.
(For more information, email jessica@theparentcollective.com.)
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