We are fortunate to have a wonderful group of members who have volunteered their time to serve on the SMPC Board.  This month, we will be highlighting a few of our Board Members by sharing their SMPC role and experiences. 

Meet Erin Livingston!      

As the Playgroups and Parent Pairings Coordinator, could you tell us what you do? 

For playgroups, I set up new groups in Facebook as needed and recruit for new members. I also try to encourage conversation or meetups, especially in the groups that are just getting started. For Parent Pairings, I match up to 70 members at a time with mentors or buddies. The matches last for 6 months and are 1:1 or small group, with monthly prompts to inspire connection. 

How long have you been an SMPC member, and how long have you been on the Board?   What initially drew you to join the SMPC, and then to volunteer for this Board position?  

I've been a member for close to 4 years - I joined when my son was around 3 months old. I joined SMPC because I wanted to meet others who were in a similar stage of motherhood. It's so nice to have others who are going through the same things at the same time, whether that's breastfeeding an infant, potty training a toddler, or making decisions about schools later on. This is my second year on the board. I've really benefited from SMPC, especially during the early days of covid when socially-distanced park playdates were some of my only social gatherings! I wanted to contribute more to creating that community. 

What city do you live in?  How many kids do you have and how old are they?  

My husband and I live in the Sunnybrae neighborhood of San Mateo and our son just turned 4! We love to meet neighbors so feel free to reach out if you live nearby. 

Where are some of your favorite places (in San Mateo or elsewhere in the Bay Area) to take your son? 

We often walk to downtown San Mateo to get coffee at Blue Bottle, then swing by Central Park and maybe the Japanese Tea Garden. We also like to hike at Edgewood Park Natural Preserve. I recommend a membership to CuriOdyssey since that's an easy local option that includes Magic Mountain playground. If we are feeling more ambitious, we sometimes go to Tunnel Tops Park or Golden Gate Park in SF. 

What is your favorite SMPC event you've attended and why? 

My favorite event is actually ongoing...it's our book club! I've been a regular for years now and love meeting up with friends who also love to read every 3 weeks.