Littles Land: Q&A with MoMommies & Union Square Play Founder, Jennie Monness
Courtesy of Jennie Monnes
ABOUT JENNIE
After receiving her Master’s in Teaching from Columbia University, Jennie Monness began her career in the early childhood arena, serving as a curriculum director at several educational centers in Manhattan. Two years ago, Monness decided to take her decade’s worth of experience in the field and share her knowledge with new parents through her blog, Mo' Mommies. Jennie’s goal was to educate and empower new parents during an overwhelming time, and she used her own experiences, both clinical and personal, to share the type of information that all parents can benefit from. In starting @momommies, however, Monness has created more than just a list of recommendations – she’s created a community. The @momommies Instagram account has quickly grown (thanks in part to the pandemic) into a robust digital platform where moms can connect, support and empower one another.
In addition to her community building online, Monness co-founded an IRL beloved NYC play space, Union Square Play, to bring her ideas to life. Through developmental, sensory, music and creative classes, in addition to a thoughtful open play space, city moms have been raving about USP since it opened. Her methods center around open-ended play materials and objects, so that babies can be “engaged rather than entertained”, and, as she says: “create their own ‘curriculum’ to learn in a natural, innate way.”
Pivoting through the pandemic, Monness wisely launched “USP Online” – to focus energy where parents need it the most. Jennie leads various virtual mom groups weekly, and we cannot tell you how many friends have benefitted from the communal support of other moms going through parenting at the same life stage, especially during Covid. (Check out the groups here.)
The educator and mama of two girls is constantly on the move, whether she’s mediating group sessions, or creating content and curriculum for her quickly sold-out “Union Square Play Packs”, meant to support parents of children 1-3 years old with at home sensory learning kits. So we were thrilled to sit down with her to chat about everything from the most effective way to design a play room or nursery to how to avoid the dreaded “mom guilt” – this is one of AO’s favorite interviews on Fenimore Lane so far; we hope you enjoy!
You have such an extensive, clinical background in teaching young children, from earning your Master’s at Teachers College at Columbia to leading Early Childhood centers in Manhattan as an educational director for almost a decade: how did you know this was something you wanted to do for a career, and when did you decide teaching and working with children was your passion in life? Were there any big influences that lead you to this role?
I studied psychology in college and planned on being a clinical psychologist - before applying to a PhD program, I got my first clinical research position with cancer patients. Asking patients to be participants in clinical trials that may or may not save their life, that may or may not be a placebo became incredibly hard. One pediatric patient lost her life and it all became too much. I experienced a very tough time in my life. That experience helped me learn about myself, my own “stuff” and made me think about what I really wanted to do with the rest of my life. I realized I wanted to be with children - and something told me I wanted to work with children the same age as the patient that lost her life.
I got my first early childhood position through an ad on Craigslist. My job at a government funded daycare/preschool was clear: teach these 2 year olds English and make them “smart.” I sang, changed diapers, I played with them, and I learned so much. I also understood the power of play and how it was just the first step for so many other things. How certain materials and ways of setting up play stood for so much more: creativity, focus, confidence, and above all supporting thoughtfully vs reflexively. This is where I learned to “sit on my hands” and how I learned that saying too much, or anything at all, was unnecessary sometimes. I formed relationships with those children that went far beyond a shared language and it really inspired me to build my entire life around caring for children in the most respectful and effective ways.
Your approach to teaching and parenting children is so refreshing, and is so clearly grounded in respect for children and understanding that they are little people with big feelings – what is your “elevator pitch” for explaining your approach to engaging with young children?
Our reflex is to do, say and act to eliminate hard feelings and emotions. For ourselves and our children. But what really makes anyone feel the most seen, what really helps us to grow, is accepting emotions and loving unconditionally through them.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do: I started Mo’ Mommies because I craved a community when I was trying to get pregnant and couldn’t. I didn’t think it was possible to be vulnerable in front of people and realized that it absolutely is when you find the right community. I launched Mo’ Mommies a month before my first daughter was born with the goal of educating and guiding new moms on how to spend time with their babies in a thoughtful way. Once I gave birth my desire for a community grew to a need. I started in person mom’s groups shortly thereafter and met a mom in one of those groups. With her and her other partner in the hospitality business, we created Union Square Play!
How does the MoMommies/Union Square Play approach translate into thinking about interiors for kids, whether it’s a play space, a functional eating environment, or an ideal sleep set-up in nurseries and bedrooms for toddlers?
Using the child-led approach. This is how we built Union Square Play and its one of the most prominent underpinnings of what I believe in. When setting up anything for a child, think about where they are developmentally and who they are as a person. Do they like big airy spaces or do they do better when they are in more of a contained environment? Is your child full of energy or does your child like to do more quiet activities? Is your child independent? How do you think you can foster independence when thinking about interiors for kids.
For younger babies and infants, it’s obviously hard to use a child-led approach because they can’t tell us what they are comfortable with yet. It’s our job to get to know our young babies and tweak their environment based on who. they. are.
I also love involving children in the decor for instance by using a company like MarkedBy who helps you create artwork out of your child’s creative expression.
We are huge fans of your MoMommies Shop, where you list out your favorite toys and must-have’s for kids grouped by age – what are some of your favorite kids brands for thoughtful playroom decor, furniture, etc.?
I love the website Smallable, Serena and Lily, Nestig, Lalo and RAD Children’s Furniture.
The community of moms that you have brought together in all stages of parenthood (from trying to conceive, to pregnant moms, to moms with toddlers of all ages) is so remarkable. If you had to pick, what is your favorite thing that you’ve learned from engaging with and helping to build this community on a daily basis over the past few years?
That no one is immune to needing a community. I am someone that thought doing things myself and knowing how to do it all without needing help meant something heroic about me. That’s not heroic. Being able to lean on community, be there for people and accept support myself has been the most eye opening part of all of this. I basically built the one thing I thought I never needed, and the one thing that I now see I always needed the most. No one is too cool for community.
Union Square Play is such a fun, safe haven for moms in NYC – how can others join in on the USP community if they don’t live in New York, or are limited during pandemic times? I can’t give this away yet, but its just WEEKS away, every single person in the world will be able to be part of this intimate community, and yes, it will remain intimate even when there are a billion of us connecting.
Any practical advice or words of wisdom for first time moms nervous about designing “the right” kind of spaces from a developmental perspective for their children? (Or for moms in general? 😉)
Less is more, pun intended.
Your parenting motto:
“You got this.” I say it to moms, to my kids and to myself. Feeling sure of ourselves and confident is the best way to parent. We need to really believe we got this, because we do!
Favorite parenting or early childhood book:
The Scientist in the Crib by Alison Gopnik and No Bad Kids by Janet Lansbury.
Favorite book to read to your kids:
The Rabbit Listened, Always Be You, Dear Girl, and The Wonderful Things You Will Be.
What parenting “rules” do you always follow, and which are made to be broken:
I always follow!
Diaper bag staples:
Coterie wipes, oxo travel potty, destructibles books, and Annie’s Graham Crackers.
Best parenting advice you ever received:
It’s actually a quote that my business partner just read to me from the book Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Something along the lines of being a “treasure hunt parent” vs. a parent who has expectations. Being a treasure hunt parents allows us to see the treasures our children already are and shows our curiosity and authentic interest in who they are (which is how we best connect with them and feel secure in our own role as mothers.)
Types of kid-related purchases you save on, and ones you invest in:
I try to save on clothes and shoes, they grow out of them SO quickly! I will splurge for a special occasion but otherwise really try to save on their clothes and focus on them just being comfortable. My favorite spots for them are Zara, H and M, and Target.
I invest in gross motor equipment for them. I want them to master these structures and for them to have them for years to come. So making sure they are sturdy and well made is important.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: Tuna Salad
Drink: Tequila and ginger beer.
Film: Too hard to answer!
Hotel: Cap Juluca, Anguilla
City: NYC Pre Covid and Saint Tropez
Bedding: Pottery Barn waffle bedding
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Iced Coffee with oat milk.
Playlist: Justin Bieber
Weekend Activity: Play with my kids/family
Design Book: I just love Andy Warhol coffee table books.
