Mothers' Gathering (Mommy&Me)

We know that your first year with your baby is extremely hard!
You're tired, overwhelmed, and confused - that's why we're here!

So much more than a "Mommy and Me" class, our Mothers' Gathering classes are Education & Support groups for thinking moms who are looking for information, support, & friendship. Not just a baby group, or a class where moms will be told how to parent their child, but a place to gather the information and tools to determine what fits best for each mom and her child.

Our philosophy is that there is no one "right way" to parent and what works for you might not work for another mother. And what might work one week, might not work the next. We give you tips and strategies for your parenting tool box, helping you to find confidence in your parenting skills and choices.

Our Mothers' Gathering moms are grouped together with other mothers whose babies' birthdays are within several weeks of each other, so that everyone is generally in the same phase of their motherhood and parenting experience.

Classes meet weekly for an hour and a half (90 minutes). Each class includes a specific topic led by the expert instructor, an open-forum discussion and Q&A time, as well as songs and movement activities with your baby.

Facilitated by our wonderful Mothers' Gathering instructors including...Synthia Praglin, M.A. & Mother, Jill Campbell, PsyD & Mother, and Danielle Vorzimer, PsyD & Mother.

The Mothers' Gatherings Groups are ongoing. The first class sessions start when the babies are around 5-10 weeks old, and then continue until the babies are about a year old. The classes divided into 8 week sessions, and new moms can join at the start of the new session (or mid-session, if space is available). Many moms stay with their group for the whole first year of their baby's life, and some transfer into the Working Moms group after their first or second 8-week session.

Groups for new mothers start approximately every 4 weeks. These classes do fill quickly and require pre–registration. Call 818-380-3111 to register or use the online registration page. We recommend getting on our priority list below while pregnant to ensure a space in one of our Mothers' Gatherings!

MOTHERS' GATHERING SCHEDULE

TESTIMONIALS

"Deciding to join the Mother's Gathering for new moms was the best decision I made for me and my new baby. Not only did I learn so much about child care, like tips for infant feeding, how to develop a good baby sleep schedule, and ways to help foster my baby's psychological and intellectual development, but I also discovered the BEST support system ever.
When we first met, the 12 new moms in our group were overwhelmed, overtired, stressed, and feeling isolated by the rigorous schedule of new motherhood. Not only did Jill, our instructor, give us encouragement and reassurance, but she also shared her wealth of knowledge that helped make us feel more in control as mothers. From our very first session, we were so excited to meet other moms feeling the same way and began to schedule our own play dates, mommy's nights out, family BBQ's (so our hubbies could bond- which totally worked!) and within a few weeks, our group grew very close.
Many of the moms chose to continue past the first 8-wk session and a few of us continued to re-enroll for the first year of our babies' life, since we were not only learning so much from our instructor but we wanted our babies to stay connected to their best friends. Now that my baby is a toddler, I am still very close friends with a handful of the moms I met through AMH and feel so lucky to have them in my and my son's life. Thank you, A Mother's Haven, for giving me and my family friends for life and the skills I needed to become the confident mom I am today."
-Jana from Helping Hand Nutrition, mom of Evan

"When I had my first child, I attended Mothers' Gathering (Mommy&Me) at A Mother's Haven. It was a fabulous experience for me and my son. I got to meet other moms and get the support I needed at the time. It was so nice to be with others who were going through the same experience as me.
I also got quite a bit of guidance from the instructor on how to get my baby to sleep and eat. The best part is that I made one of my best friends in that class. I highly recommend A Mother's Haven to new moms in the San Fernando Valley."
- Lorena from LA Moms Dig, mom of Beckham, 5 and Sienna, 2

"I credit my sanity during the first 6 months after my son was born to my Mothers' Gathering class at A Mother's Haven. The teacher (Jill) was an incredible resource of information. Her sweet but straightforward disposition makes her feel like your best friend/sister/mom all rolled into one.
I also met the most amazing group of women, and we all became fast friends. Three years later, we still meet up for playdates, birthday parties, and girls' nights! I am forever grateful for this invaluable experience, and I highly recommend it to all new moms I meet."
-Tami, mom of Guy, 3 and Zoe, almost 2

“Just a note of thanks for a great Mothers’ Gathering run. We sing the songs, do the exercises, and use the handouts almost everyday. The handouts on baby proofing, solid foods, and preschool are especially helpful. We just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your help and influence during the first 6 months of a “new life,” (for mommy as well as baby.) You offer so many wonderful resources and programs”
-J's Mom

“We love coming to A Mother’s Haven. We are currently taking a Kindermusik class and we are attending Mothers’ Gathering here as well. We’re very happy!
-Joanne Tu and Payton Nguyen

"This class was a real touchstone for me during my son’s first year. I would absolutely definitely recommend this to my pregnant friends.
-Becky S

"The Mothers’ Gathering has been such a tremendous support to us. The friends we are making are now friends we will have for a life time."
-Amy Clayton and Sydney

"Thank you again for a wonderful class. It was informative and affirming for me as a mother. I also appreciated your words of advice and the interesting articles/ideas you passed our way. Best wishes to you as you continue to give much needed support to new moms."
-Ruth and Grace

Did you have a wonderful time in your Mothers' Gathering (Mommy&Me) class? We'd love to hear about what you loved and what you got out of the class, so that we can let even more new moms know exactly how beneficial and supportive these classes can be during that first year with their new baby.

Email us your testimonial at info@shopthehaven.com or submit it online here. Looking forward to hearing from you!