Hi Friends,
I am proud to bring you a new edition of MOMS I HEART: highlighting the impactful, amazing, and inspiring moms in my life.
For this edition, I am joined by Jennie Monness: parent + child educator, podcast host, and co-founder of Union Square Play. The parenting community and play place, founded in 2018, prioritizes the Resources for Infant Educarers (REI) philosophy, specializing in classes founded on observation, child-led open play, trust, and participation. Featuring classes in three unique categories (movement, music, and play) as well as parenting courses and mom groups, Union Square Play offers a community for the whole family.
Jennie is also the founder of Charmspring, an accessible, tactile, kid-friendly day planner. From babies to big kids, this planner encourages curiosity and awareness of schedules, the predictability and familiarity of routines, and a sense of ownership, responsibility, and independence. Fully customizable to grow with your family, Charmspring’s Springboards are a fun and effective solution to the typically difficult lesson of transitions, routines, and schedules.
In addition to Union Square Play and Charmspring, Jennie is the host of the ‘We Didn’t Turn Out OK’ podcast. Combining research and experience, Jennie welcomes guests to share their own parenting experiences.
With over 15 years of experience in childhood development, Jennie has so much insight to share. Read along to hear her coveted advice, including her own sweet motherhood moments and daily rituals.
Listen to We Didn’t Turn Out OK, the podcast.
MOMS I HEART
JENNIE MONNESS
PARENT + CHILD EDUCATOR
WHO OR WHAT MADE YOU A MOM?
This may sound weird, but I believe my mom did. I have always felt like a destined mom since a young age. Not in the usual “girls often feel that way” way but in a way that it was my aspiration and what felt like my calling because my mom modeled being a mom in the most exceptional way. It’s probably why I chose to do what I did for a living - worked with and cared for kids - changed diapers, fed them, connected with them and all that came with that. My mom made motherhood seem like something that was as important as any job (if not the most important) and I grew up truly knowing that it was not “just a mom” to become one.
Scientifically, IVF made me a mom. We conceived my first daughter, Tess, who is now 7, via IVF.
A RECENT BIG LITTLE MOMENT…
Yesterday my younger daughter who is very picky about her clothing said “mommy, I decided, I’’m going to wear the same things more than once.” It was her way of saying “I’m comfortable with a few things in my closet and decided I’m going to stick to those things.” My older daughter took it literally and said “well of course you are going to wear the same things more than once! There are so many hundreds of days until you die! You can’t possibly not wear something different every single day!”
A little while later, my younger daughter said “I don’t want to die, when you die, do you ever come back?”
My older daughter replied “no you don’t ever come back, but you’ll have daughters who will be alive after you.”
Something about the conversation was a big little moment: that my daughters felt comfortable talking about death, a very heavy topic, that they understood what it meant and that my older daughter was able to make it sound hopeful and beautiful instead of really sad. Also that she just assumes she’ll have daughters one day haha.
DAILY RITUAL?
Iced coffee at home with oat milk, one stevia and my collagen powder mixed in. Also, daily glance at my digital vision board I made on pinterest - not a day goes by since January 1 2025 where I don’t look at it.
THE ADVICE YOU DIDN’T TAKE
During my most overwhelming and busiest days my mom would suggest I scale back on my work load. I never took that advice because I heard it as “you have to choose between your passions and motherhood” I don’t believe we have to do that.
THE ADVICE YOU NOW GIVE
Advice of my moms that I have taken and live by every day “go with your gut” and what I weave into almost every conversation with a mom when they come to me with a challenge.
YOUR WISH FOR EVERY MOM
To know how much they never ever have to do motherhood alone. No one does. Also, to give themselves grace, to know that no mom is perfect and if they are even worried about that, it means they are an exceptional mom.
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