IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Lifelong friends Meera Sinha and Emma Huntley leverage their expertise in early childhood development to build a community for moms.

Growing up as next-door neighbors on an idyllic block in Evanston, Meera Sinha and Emma Huntley forged a bond that would last a lifetime. Without even a fence to separate them, their families intertwined like an extension of one another, creating a sense of tight-knit community.

While life took Sinha and Huntley in separate directions for college and their post-grad years, the two, with their young families in tow, eventually found their way back to Evanston—landing just eight blocks apart.

While they embraced motherhood, the women also realized something was missing. Despite their respective backgrounds in psychology and education, parenting still felt overwhelming. What made it manageable—and even joyful—was having each other.

“We could vent to one another about anything,” says Sinha. “Children, spouses, jobs—really everything. But we did wonder about those who didn’t have this kind of support in place.”

Their deep-seated friendship and shared passion for early childhood development eventually led them to create ParentConnect to answer a question they often pondered: What if all moms had a space to feel supported, heard, and connected during the often isolating journey of early parenthood?

The vision for ParentConnect wasn’t crystal clear in the beginning. “We were just two moms having conversations,” Huntley recalls. But the more they talked, the more they realized they wanted to build something bigger—something that allowed mothers to find their own “village” in an authentic, natural way.

“We didn’t want to offer another parenting class. We wanted a space where moms could focus on themselves, their friendships, their personal growth—without feeling like everything had to be about the kids,” Sinha says.

Sinha and Huntley started small by hosting pilot groups in their living rooms. Some weeks, they brought in guest experts—couples’ therapists or child development specialists—to facilitate discussions. Other weeks, they simply let the conversation flow. Yet, a common thread through every session was their desire to incorporate child development research and advice through what they call “disguised learning.” Disguised learning looks less like a formal class with a presentation and more like a get-together with friends, with the added benefit of walking away with new knowledge that can easily be applied to a family’s unique situation.

“We always joke that when we don’t get to the topic we planned, it’s the sign of a really good week,” Huntley says. “We want to meet moms where they are. We’re not here to tell people how to parent. We’re here to help them find the people who will be part of their village.”

What surprised the duo about the sessions was the power of spontaneous conversation. Moms shared lots of information—from the best strollers to travel with on an airplane to the challenges of postpartum recovery. “The resource sharing became such a big part of this, creating a ‘hive mind’ of sorts,” Sinha notes. “It wasn’t something we expected, but it turned out to be one of the most valuable pieces. Our challenge is harnessing this information and creating a platform where our moms can access it easily.”

When the pilot meetings were over, Sinha and Huntley asked the moms what sessions they liked the most. The response was overwhelming—all of them.

“There’s such a need for this,” Huntley says. “But it’s also a hard business model to figure out. Programs for parents, caregivers, and especially moms, often aren’t valued in the same way as other services. But we’re determined to make this sustainable.”

Currently, moms can search the ParentConnect website for the group that corresponds best with the age of their newborn or toddler and sign up for a four-week session. Understanding that many of the moms who participated in their earlier groups have returned to work, there is now a “weekender” option that these moms can join.

“When we asked our moms if they would like to have input on what we do or where we go for the weekender group, it was a firm ‘no,’” laughs Sinha. “They asked us to facilitate all the details. They just want to come and connect with moms like themselves.”

As they look ahead, Sinha and Huntley are focused on expanding their reach throughout the North Shore and beyond. Through word of mouth, social media, and partnerships with other local parent groups working to build community, they hope to bring ParentConnect to even more moms needing support.

“Our ultimate dream is to create a world where no parent feels alone,” says Sinha, “where finding your support network is as easy as meeting your neighbor next door.”

For more information, visit joinparentconnect.com.