Claire Collins ’23
The “Conversations on Practical Parenting” events, organized by the Parent Admission Network, emphasize the importance of community, specifically among the parents of the student body. With two upcoming sessions on February 8 and April 5, the session’s robust programming has successfully provided parents with helpful guidance while also allowing them to socialize with other EA parents.
Amy Walling, Associate Director of Enrollment, is the moderator and marketer for the series. She explains that the events (this year held on Zoom) center around one topic. Parents discuss in advance, and then reconvene for a speaker and a questions and answers session. She adds that it is “really useful for parents who are finding themselves struggling with understanding their little kids, which has been the age group that we’ve focused on, primarily elementary school and even toddlers.” The series has held about five sessions per year since 2018.
EA decided to host the Practical Parenting events to create a safe space for parents to talk about and share any roadblocks regarding their children to a place with family counselors and professionals in certain areas as well as other parents who might be having similar issues. The presentations, hosted every couple of months, are “open to all EA parents and prospective parents. Those parents looking into EA might not even be in the applicant pool, but it’s a nice opportunity for the parents to get to know the parental environment at a school they are considering for their child.” Walling highlights the main purpose of organizing the Practical Parenting series: “to help parents because we want to give added value to the Episcopal experience.” She continues, “I think happy, successful parents make happy, successful kids and being part of a community is really important. It’s all about community. These events are just different ways to touch base with people, which is important especially now.” The theme of community is evident in Walling’s reflection on the events and is a driving force as to why EA hosts this series every year.
Members of the EA faculty, who are also parents, have attended a handful of these talks. Paul Sanders, Assistant Head of School, heard about this idea in its early planning stages. “At the time, I had a three year old daughter, so I loved the idea both for the school and for myself as a parent.” After attending several of the events, he mentions that he “appreciates the ‘we’re all in this together’ spirit of the sessions. It helps remind attendees that the questions we all have are actually more common than it sometimes feels.” The events are “organized, well-run, comfortable, and collaborative”. He recommends other parents to attend “as a reminder that they’re not alone in wondering how to handle the many challenges that come each day as a parent.” He jokes, “and the hors d’oeuvres (last year when it was in-person) were superb.” Whitney Ebmeyer, member of EAPA, when asked about how COVID-19 affected the “Conversations on Practical Parenting” events quotes, “Now that we are home with COVID, it is less about [inviting your friends and seeing what the school is all about for prospective parents] and has been more of a community effort.”
The Conversations on Practical Parenting events are a great way for the parents of our EA community to get to know each other and bond over the difficulties and rewards that come with parenting. Meant mostly for prospective parents and/or parents of young students, the sessions are informative and take place in a safe, inclusive environment. Families interested in attending, can reach out to Amy Walling to join for the February 8th session about “Birth Order.”