WCCA brings children and mothers together

Allison Mead Talbot didn’t know many people when she moved to Weston during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although restrictions had lifted by the time she had her first child in January 2022, she still had few people to rely on.

By the time Mead Talbot’s second child was born, she said she had a village to support her because of the people she met through the Weston Community Children’s Association (WCCA), a group to bring Weston’s mothers together.

“Motherhood can be lonely and isolating, even when people want to help. Having a cohort of friends to bounce ideas off of and compare notes with is so useful. It feeds your soul in a way you don’t expect,” she said. “Going through parenting in a town where you don’t have family, with the benefit of the village created by WCCA is pretty magical.”

Families involved in WCCA are organized into groups by children’s ages, each named after an endangered animal such as the volcano rabbit, a species native to the slopes of extinct volcanoes in Mexico. Age groups do activities together, such as touring the local fire station and enjoying playground outings. Vice President Alexandra Brasco said bringing children together at a young age also builds an important community among parents. 

“You’re in a very specific experience with a kid of a specific age,” Brasco said. “We want to support each other and have a community of people going through the same thing.”

When Brasco first went on maternity leave, she said she would approach anyone with a stroller. Now she has a group of other parents to rely on for advice and support.

The WCCA’s events, such as wine tastings and dinners after children’s bedtimes, give moms a chance to build a deeper connection.

“It’s important for kids to socialize. At the same time, the moms are the energy behind it all, so you want us to be recharged, too,” she said.

The WCCA has been bringing families together since its founding in 1981. Kristin Gaul, president of the group, joined because her mother was a member when Gaul was a child. She said the group has adapted as parenting has changed over time by scheduling more weekend and evening events to accommodate working mothers.

“There are some things that change through the years, like there’s a lot more working women in Weston now,” Gaul said. “The scheduling used to be catered to stay-at-home moms, but we’ve tweaked the programming to meet those shifting needs.”

The group has also added activities for dads, such as catching a football game at a sports bar, according to Brasco, who says they want to get more men involved with the WCCA. 

While the group continues to adapt to the changing world of parenting, it still maintains annual traditions, including the Halloween parade and Valentine’s Day dance. Gaul said those are favorites for the kids.

For Mead Talbot, the most important part of the WCCA is the everyday support and friendship. 

“I rely so heavily on the advice and generosity and experiences of other moms in town,” Mead Talbot said. “It’s made Weston feel like home.”