History, Mission and Vision of Ladies with Babies!

Hi, my name is Gretchen Smith and some of you may know me as the gal who started "Ladies With Babies". Even as I write that, I smile. Irony is written all over my face. But it's true, the "anti" mom groupie started a mom's group:) It's not that I have anything against these groups (clearly), it's just that I had this preconceived notion that "mom groups" were primarily about child obsession, development comparison and identity confusion... and if I were to be totally honest with you, I didn't want anything to do with that. I mean my twenties were hard enough! 

But what do you do when you find out you're going to be a mom? Who will help answer your endless amount of questions? Like where do babies come from? Kidding! Who will be straight up with you when you're getting a little cray-cray over schedules? Who will speak truth, encouragement and grace over you when you say you're "running to the store" but secretly you go scream in your car and maybe for a split second think about heading to Mexico? You know who will... other moms! And if you're lucky enough you might get the ones who are honest with you too! 

So there I was, two months away from being a first time mom, to a baby girl I hardly knew anything about, so what did I do? I ate lunch. Yes, lunch! I emailed the handful of first time moms I knew in my circle of friends and said, "I'd love to hear your story and pick your brain over lunch one day." And that's what we did. A handful of women one November afternoon met for lunch and that's when "I'm Pregnant Now What"… wait… I mean "Ladies With Babies" was created. Ha! 

During that initial meeting there was joy, laughter, and solidarity in sharing stories and commonalities, but there also was a need. A need for moms to connect. To get out of their homes. To have adult conversations (and beverages insert Wine and Tummy Time). And then I thought what if we as a group could meet needs and foster a group of moms that could serve and to be served? What if we could be a group that was safe and full of grace and love for one another? I thought to myself, “this can happen, it needs to happen,” and I trusted that God could do that through me and many others who shared this vision and mission. 

So lunch that November turned into lunch in December, and week-by-week friends and friends-of-friends were being welcomed into this group - even strangers were coming up to us asking who we were and how they could be a part of what we were doing. As the weeks went by, more and more gathered that we started seeing women and their children get invited into our community from all over Austin, and then tell others about it. It's been unbelievably humbling and incredible to see. Not only was this an answer to prayer for me, but I'd like to believe for so many others as well.

You remember earlier how I talked about my preconceived notions? Well the funny thing about preconceived notions is that they are formed without adequate evidence. I guess getting it wrong never felt so right and now I can take my foot out of my mouth

LWB: Vision and Mission

“LWB started in 2013 as a small group of women and first time moms who were in need of community, resources and support. As you can see, this group has grown into so much more and we welcome anyone who is in need of the same, no matter how long you’ve been a mom or how many kids you’ve got.

LWB still provides community, resources and support, but the heart behind LWB is to meet need in and outside of this group. In addition to meet-ups, exchanging goods, and NONJUDGMENTAL sharing, LWB will provide specific ways for you to serve each other and our great city.”