Life with children is full. Full of movement, needs, growth, questions, and constant change. It can be deeply meaningful, and also deeply demanding.
And in the midst of caring for everyone else, it’s easy to lose the feeling of being held yourself.
Family Pods are a space to come together with other caregivers and children, to step out of isolation and into connection.
Family Pods create space for both caregivers and children to belong. Children build friendships through shared play and experience, while caregivers have the opportunity to connect, reflect, and support one another in real and honest ways.
Together, we focus on weaving relationships that extend beyond our time together, so that support becomes something lived, not just talked about.
In our time together, we explore:
Building strong, connected relationships within the family and with others
Supporting children’s emotional worlds while tending to your own
The nervous system, for both caregivers and children, and how regulation shapes daily life
Communication within partnerships and families, especially in the midst of stress and growth
Navigating the ongoing identity shifts that come with raising children
Creating rhythms, boundaries, and support systems that feel sustainable
This is not about having it all figured out. It’s about being in it together.
How the Pods Form
Three times a year, the Forest Collective invites a small group of families to join and form a pod for those expecting a baby within the next six months. Whether this is a first pregnancy or one of many, each pod brings together people in a similar season of life, creating space for connection, shared experience, and support as they prepare to welcome a new baby.
The Rhythm
Weekly 2-hour gatherings for 7 weeks - meeting outside at parks around Anchorage, Eagle River, and Palmar.
2 additional meetups about a month later to reconnect and reflect
Guided by Amy Rupp as facilitator and matrescence coach