After three years as the PEPS Developmental Manager, Jessica Brockman thought she knew what to expect when she joined a Newborn Group after having her first child in 2023.
“It’s just so different being a participant, and it was great to see the Group from that perspective,” she said.
Jessica still keeps in touch with that group, but when she was expecting her second child in 2026, she decided to join a PEPS Second Time Around Group, which provides parent peer-support groups that connect parents navigating life with a new baby and older children already at home. Here, she found yet another surprise: This group has helped her even more than her Newborn Group -- without that brand-new parent haze, she’s been able to share more freely, and she’s able to be more present with the others. This has helped make her experience even rewarding.
“I’ve enjoyed both groups, but I’ve been enjoying the Second Time Around Group so much,” Jessica said. “Maybe it’s because we feel more confident in parenting, but it feels like we’re able to delve into topics better.”
For example, not needing to think as much about which breastfeeding pump is the best fit for her or which sleep method works for her family, she’s been able to fully dive into topics such as her identity as a parent, how her parenting impacts how her children grow up, and relationships with family.
“I have the ability to attend to those details more now than when I was in the thick of it with my first,” she explained. “I can pay a bit more attention to some of the other things [because] I’m not as concerned about some of the logistical things that worried me as a first-time parent.”
As a bonus, there is often an “awful lot” of time talking about their older kids, too, which “feels like it makes the discussion a little richer. We’re still talking about [things like] who has tips for a sleeping issue, but we’re also talking about things like sibling relationships.”
Jessica said she’s heard people hesitate to join a Second Time Around Group, wondering if it would be beneficial when they aren’t brand-new to parenting.
“I tell them, ‘Yes, it’s so beneficial. I’m so happy I joined.’”
Whether it’s your first baby or your third, PEPS wants to make sure you have support. And you may even find you have more to say – and learn – than you expected. Sign up for a Second Time Around Group today – or tell a friend!