Dear loopers,
This past year has been challenging in the best way: juggling life as a working mom to a toddler, a wife, and building The Parent Loop.
I had Addie in 2023, and during my extended maternity leave, my days slowed down but also felt surprisingly full. I spent a lot of time walking the Upper West Side with my newborn, looking for things to do that felt realistic with a baby: nearby, low-stakes, budget-friendly (or free), and easy to leave if needed. Like many parents, I relied on social media to find events. I’d save posts, forget where they were, and still feel unsure I was making the “right” plan.
When I went back to work, time became even tighter. Fridays started to feel stressful. Instead of feeling excited about the weekend, I felt behind. Planning ahead didn’t get easier — it got harder. That’s when it clicked: I didn’t need more information. I needed better organization. Something simple. Something consistent.
Before becoming a parent, I was an academic. I’ve always liked writing and structure, and I’m drawn to systems that make decisions easier. So I started asking a basic question: what if this information just showed up once a week, in one place, with only what you actually need as a parent of young kids on the Upper West Side?
That question became the core idea behind The Parent Loop — a weekly newsletter with a short list of nearby events, sent straight to your inbox, so you don’t have to search, scroll, or second-guess.
As the newsletter took shape, I started noticing something else. We buy so much for our kids, and they outgrow it almost immediately — car seats, strollers, high chairs, and especially clothes. I began looking at how families around the city were handling this, from school swaps and neighborhood groups to online marketplaces and buy-nothing pages, and wondered how we could keep more of these items circulating locally. Within a few months, it became clear there was real demand on the Upper West Side for easy information sharing and for swapping kids’ items without the hassle.
The Parent Loop launched in early September. Since then, it’s grown from zero to over 130 subscribers — a number that still surprises me, and one I’m deeply grateful for. We’ve also hosted two clothing swaps, made possible by people showing up for each other. La Escuelita opened their space, with Director Kelley giving up two Saturdays to host. Volunteer parents stepped in (thank you, Claudia and Cynthia), along with parent-run businesses like Morning Meeting and Little Swaps. These events worked because they were simple and local: neighbors helping neighbors.
It hasn’t all been smooth. There are only so many hours in a day, and a few newsletters went out late. Some nights were long. Thank you for your patience as I figure this out in real time — and a special thanks to my husband, Jake, and my mom group (Alix, Isaura, and Mandy) for the steady support, idea-bouncing, and general sanity-saving along the way.
Even with the growing pains, I’ve loved building this. I enjoy finding new events each week. I love running into you at swaps and around the neighborhood. And I’m reminded often how lucky I am to be raising a kid on the Upper West Side.
Looking ahead to 2026, there’s more coming — new ideas, small improvements, and more ways to keep this loop useful and easy. If you’re a parent, local business owner, or know someone who might be open to hosting a clothing or gear swap in their space, I’d love to hear from you. These events only work because people are willing to open their doors and share what they have.
Thank you for being here. For reading, sharing, swapping, and supporting this project as it grows. Let’s keep making parenting feel a little lighter — by simplifying how we plan our weekends and keeping good stuff circulating down the block.
See you around the neighborhood,
Jessie
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