New moms diving into endeavors to help each other
OWNER OF THE NEW MOM SCHOOL, Stephanie Marker stands in the middle of the newly designed space on Larchmont Boulevard.
GOOFING AROUND WITH her family is Elissa Shenkman. Photo by Laura Ise
MELANIE KAPLAN, creator of the platform oPPal, strolls the neighborhood with her family.
Photo by Betsy Newman
SET UP TO SELL ON the Boulevard, Lauren Breiding and her daughter Murphy display the beloved Sweet Cream Baby pajamas.
Have you heard of the word “matresence”? If you haven’t, it means the developmental transition to motherhood; colloquially the “culture of moms.” As most moms will attest, you totally change when you have a child.
The term was coined in the late 1960s in a dissertation by Dana Louise Raphael at Columbia University but never made it into the mainstream. Lately, it has come into vogue. New moms are much more aware of their own needs, and that awareness has revealed there is a deficiency in some areas of motherhood.
Four moms in the neighborhood each creating their own product to make the transition from pregnancy to motherhood easier. In this way, they are consciously supporting each other personally and professionally.
Aside from motherhood, the other thing the following moms all have in common is their love and appreciation for this neighborhood, all likening it to a village, which isn’t the norm these days.
School for new moms
The New Mom School, at 658 N. Larchmont Blvd., is exactly that—a place for new or soon-to-be moms to take a class and create community. Owner Stephanie Marker had her two kids during COVID-19, when meeting other moms was only possible online. She craved a different, less isolating kind of experience.
Having grown up in Orange County, she knew of the New Mom School, which originated in Newport Beach. Many of her childhood friends participated in the program and had wonderful experiences. With the company now offering franchise opportunities, Marker thought this would be a great chance to give other moms the experience and comradery she had wanted.
Her first-choice location was Larchmont, and working with a realtor, she got it. Marker said, “It’s been great. A perfect place to land. The LBA [Larchmont Boulevard Association] and LUNA [Larchmont United Neighborhood Association] are all invested in our success.”
She designed a space that is inviting, calming, and serene the moment you enter, both visually and audibly. Classes are held once a week for eight weeks with a different topic each meeting, such as bonding, tummy time, sleeping, and feeding. The school offers classes for parents with newborns, infants 6 to 12 months, and toddlers. There’s even a class for pregnant moms. She advises signing up for a baby class when you’re pregnant to guarantee a spot when your little bundle of joy arrives.
One mom graduate from the first cohort of classes, Hannah Hutton, of Larchmont Village, said, “This is a must, must, must. It was great. There was a sense of community I didn’t even know I needed.”
Marker wants the space to be a community hub for moms. In addition to classes, she offers a free breastfeeding clinic to anyone at any stage of motherhood.
Coming from the corporate world, the Ridgewood Place resident said, “I’m loving it so much, seeing the impact on a day-to-day basis.” She is already looking for a second location in Culver City.
For class information, visit newmomschool.com.
App for moms with resources galore
Mum’s the Word is a one- stop shopping app to find people, places, and services for motherhood and kids. After working in the entertainment industry for more than a decade, Elissa Shenkman, of Hancock Park, took the voluntary leave she was offered to work on her app full time.
After having two kids later in life, motherhood wasn’t exactly what she anticipated. Shenkman wondered, “Why is it so hard to find so many things? It’s so time consuming.” She was referring to anything from doctors, swim teachers, and parks to meet other moms to “how to get my colicky kid to stop crying”—and the list goes on. She felt everyone knew a secret that she wasn’t in on.
Mum’s the Word is here to make the task of finding help easier. It’s been around for one year, but a more nuanced and informative version of it is coming out at the end of this month.
Shenkman is rolling out a pilot version with her favorite and most familiar areas, Larchmont Village and Mid-Wilshire. “My goal is to make it easier to find all of the things you need to be a parent.”
The new version will include lists like an editorial, a chat room, and discounts. To join the waitlist, visit mumsthewordapp.com.
I need help. Who can I turn to?
Melanie Kaplan suffered from severe postpartum depression after giving birth to her first child in 2022. In 2024, when her second child was born, she had a mom community and knowledge, and her experience took a 180. One night before bed, she posted a few questions on her personal Instagram to see if moms would be interested in helping other moms navigate the first year of motherhood. By the next morning, she had hundreds of responses and knew she had to do something. “There is an amazing transformation when you become a mom. And there’s a maternal instinct to help other moms get through it,” claimed Kaplan.
She found there was a gap in care for moms after childbirth. Everyone was so focused on the baby; the mom went practically unnoticed.
She created oPPal, an online village to forge relationships for those who don’t have Larchmont Village, the area she adores. Like a sorority for moms, Little oPPals, new and expecting moms, are paired with Big oPPals, seasoned moms who are at least one year past the birth of their first child. The match is made intentionally, taking into consideration birth experience and physical location. Bigs must complete a seven-video training program designed by a team of postpartum professional before being assigned to a little.
Bigs regularly reach out to littles to check in on the mother, not their baby. “My brand is to be the neighbor or friend who gives you a glass of wine and tells you what to do,” said Kaplan a Windsor Square resident and former PR agent.
The website Myoppal.com will launch Thu., May 7. Cost to participate is $20.
Clean, cozy kids’ clothes created and made in L.A.
Sweet Cream Baby is a clothing brand for kids designed with organic cotton in cute patterns, safely dyed, and made in Los Angeles.
Mother of two and Larchmont Village resident, Lauren Brieding, started working with a partner on the clothing line during COVID-19. Learning curves and restrictions during the pandemic delayed the launch of the line until 2025. Their clothes are made for kids aged 9 months up to 6 years. They make T-shirts, sweatshirts, and, of course, pajamas, among other items.
“I never expected to get the feedback I’ve been getting. I have moms tell me their kids say, ‘More Sweet Cream please,’ and ‘If the Sweet Cream pajamas are clean that’s what I want to wear,’” said Brieding. The line is at sweetcreambaby.com. Pop-ups are announced at @sweetcream baby. You can also shop the collection in-person at the Larchmont Block party, Sun., May 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 500 block of North Bronson Avenue.
Category: Entertainment
