Susan Still was one of the first members recruited to join the Mother’s Group that would go on to become Brookside Mothers’ Association. Susan tells the story that “​One day a woman came to the door, she said someone had told her that I had children and that she and a friend were putting together a group that would be a resource for mothers who stayed home with their children.  That was (almost) 40 years ago”. 

That woman was Kindra Jackal, who, together with her friend, had the idea to support themselves and others through the season of mothering young children by organizing a Mother’s Group.  The initial idea was for arranging group activities with the kids, but soon spun out into a babysitting co-op, a book club, and a dinner club.  Friendships formed in those early years continued even as their kids grew up and to this day Susan, Kindra and former BMA Newsletter writer, Becky Summer still live in Brookside and are still friends! 

Susan’s circumstances back in 1978, and desire to be part of a Mother’s Group, will sound familiar to many of us.  She and her husband had moved into a new house in an established neighborhood where many of her immediate neighbors’ children were already grown. continue reading