I thought about not coming back after that first day, but I didn’t have anything else to do on Wednesdays...

"When I joined PEPS, I didn’t think I would get much out of it.  I figured I would join, since everyone was telling me to, but once the main 3 month period was up, I would probably quit.  I didn’t think I really needed it - I already had friends, after all, and I am pretty independent.  I had no idea that this little group would change my world completely, and help me find a new career path.

When the group first met, I didn’t expect much.  I looked at the other moms, including Michele, my web partner, and tried to figure out what kind of people they were.  I tried to apply some stereotype to each one- she seems rich, she seems shy, she seems nervous.  I wondered what they were thinking of me.

During that first day, we went around and shared some stories.  It was nice to hear each other’s experiences, but I still didn’t think it would amount to much.  I hadn’t made a new friend for years- why would this be different?  I thought about not coming back after that first day, but I didn’t have anything else to do on Wednesdays (or any other day of the week, honestly).  So I came back the next week.  And the week after that.  And the week after that.

Somewhere along the line, something changed.  I looked forward to Wednesdays and seeing everyone.  These other mothers were women I would not have met any other way, and we were all so different from each other, we likely wouldn’t have naturally come together.  But in this situation, with all of us struggling through the tornado that is new motherhood, we understood each other.  Being together every week, we had time to grow into strong friendships.  Our group still meets every week on Wednesdays, and even though we don’t all come every time, I know all of us are there for each other.  When I look back on it now, I feel so lucky- and so disappointed for people who don’t get to experience it.  

Two years after we first met, Michele and I decided to see if we could make a website together.  We promised to do only what we could handle (we are still stay-at-home moms, which is somehow very busy).  We came up with hundreds of ideas for places to go with your kids, from Renton to Bothell, and posted it our website.  We created a free, weekly newsletter to share more ideas.  When we were done, the first people we showed it to were our friends from PEPS.  It has since grown, and now thousands of people visit our site each month.  We still shake our heads in disbelief when we think about it.  One thing we believe confidently, though, is we owe it all to PEPS.  Thank you for everything: sanity, joy, comfort, understanding, support, friendship, opportunities, education… everything!!"

~ Lexie Tigre, 2005 PEPS Participant