PEPS Unplugged

~ By Mary Gentry, PEPS Program Director

Imagine you have just moved to a foreign country. You have the worst case of jet lag ever. The guidebook that you bought before you left seemed so comprehensive, but it doesn’t tell you everything you need to know. You do not speak the language, and you are overwhelmed and confused. In this new place, the customs are very different. Your natural ways of behaving and interacting no longer work. Everything is new and yet, you are expected to adapt immediately. The rhythms of life are different here, and you are constantly sleep deprived. You miss your old life, where everything was familiar. You miss your friends back home; they only imagine the excitement of your travel.*

The culture shock of new parenting is eased by PEPS through its various Parent Support Programs. The parenting road twists and turns; our children take us to unknown places where we meet strangers who become friends. These comrades touch us with their lives, and align with us in common experience. With the need for parent connection in mind, PEPS is delighted to bring you the following new programs:

1. Our “supplemental” groups are designed to add depth and meaning to the newborn experience. These groups are developed around special needs and interests. To date, we’ve launched two supplemental groups for parents currently in the PEPS Newborn Program. These groups meet monthly and are at no cost:
   • The group for parents of premature babies is a safe place to talk frankly about the adjustment to having a baby born prematurely. In addition to the opportunity to tell one’s story, topic conversations focus on stress and emotional coping, developmental delays, working with medical caregivers, running interference with family and friends, learning how to ask for help and becoming your child’s advocate.
   • A second supplemental group, the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) group, provides
   a supportive place where parents can openly discuss such topics as anxiety and stress related to being out with partner and baby, perceived and real isolation, integration into the larger parenting community, local  parenting resources that are LGBT-friendly, legal issues (adoption, taxes, benefit coverage), welcoming neighborhoods and schools.
2. In a new partnership with Jewish Family Service, PEPS now offers a peer support group experience for parents of newborns within a culturally sensitive context. In addition to universal issues related to having a new baby, this special partnership will address Jewish traditions and resources in the Jewish community. These PEPS Newborn Groups will meet at community locations and member homes throughout the Greater Seattle area.
3. For PEPS members who have completed their 12 week Newborn Groups, PEPS offers a new tool that encourages ongoing interaction through access to PEPSNET, a secure community online forum. Sponsored by BigTent, PEPSNET is a great way for ongoing PEPS members to connect. Users will find hot topics of interest on everything from solving sleep issues to ideas for low-cost family get-aways.
4. Another thing to check out is PEPS' ParentTalk, our 2009 lecture series. We’ve chosen topics we know are of interest, and invite parents to join us for informative and engaging conversations throughout the year.

These programs are some of the ways PEPS is working to actively grow the local parenting community. We invite your feedback and ideas. Families are enriched by one another and become traveling companions on the journey through childhood, adolescence and beyond.  In reality, we as parents have our children at home for a very short period of time. With my last child graduating from high school last week, I can say to you, “What a ride these 18 years have been! Time passes in the blink of an eye!”

Here’s to a summer filled with friends and family. Enjoy and see you and your family at PEPSapalooza on August 22nd!
 
Mary Gentry
PS: Feel free to contact me with any questions regarding our PEPS programs, at mary@pepsgroup.org or 206-547-8570 ext. 21

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*Adapted from: Andrea J. Buchanan, Mother Shock, Loving Every (Other) Minute of It, 2003