When Elizabeth Garrison, a Dallas mom of 6-year-old Jack and 4-year-old Natalie, left her job to stay home with her kids, she knew she wanted to develop friendships with other moms. A friend told her about the North Dallas Early Childhood PTA, and (after a quick Google search) Garrison showed up at a meeting, not knowing anyone in the group. Three years and many friends later, Garrison is the proud president, helping to organize meetings, annual fundraisers and fun get-togethers for moms and children. She says the group not only reached out to her, but also to community members in need, including a Dallas family who lost their home to fire last year.
"This organization was established in the 1920s, proving that there has been and always will be a need for mothers to support each other. We currently have 199 members – looking for the 200th! We accept new members year-round. Annual dues are $35. Childcare is provided during our meetings for an additional cost. For more information or a membership form, moms can go to www.ndecpta.com. We have members from all over Dallas, but the majority live in the North Dallas area.
"The NDECPTA holds meetings the first Thursday of every month, September through May. Our meetings are held at Cochran Chapel United Methodist Church in Dallas. For the moms, we offer a light breakfast and a speaker who discusses topics of interest to mothers of young children. For the kids, we offer childcare divided by age, a light snack, toys, games and an entertainer every other month.
"We have an annual New Member Round-Up in August every year, a couples party in the fall and spring (husbands are invited, but no kids!), a December Holiday Brunch and Fundraiser and a May Brunch and Fundraiser.
"The NDECPTA is the best way for mothers of young children to get to know other moms of young children in their immediate area. We foster friendships with the children through playgroups, lunches at our neighborhood parks and playdates at the Galleria and other local venues that are appealing to young children.
"Through activities such as morning coffees with kids to moms’ nights out without kids, we seek to offer a variety of day and evening activities to foster relationships between mothers of young children. It makes this big city of Dallas seem very small and friendly. When I quit my full-time job to stay home with my 2-year-old and newborn baby, I didn’t know any women in my neighborhood with young children. The NDECPTA opened the doors to so many friendships for me and my children. In addition, I soon had a much-needed social life away from my full-time-stay-at-home-mom job!"
