In the last article, I shared all the facts about the New Parent Support Program—what it is, who it’s for, and why it’s such an incredible resource. I knew all of that. I preached all of that, but knowing a program exists and actually using it?

That took a little longer.

Eventually, I swallowed the pride and the shame that whispered asking for help is weak and called ACS. The woman on the other end of the phone asked for my name and number and said someone would be in contact shortly. The next day I got a call from Taylor.

When I answered the phone she sounded warm, calm, kind — a rare trifecta when you feel like
a walking tornado. She asked what kind of support I was looking for. I told her the truth: “I don’t
even know. I just want to make sure I’m not failing my son.” (The same son who was joyfully
gnawing on roasted bone marrow while I was debating whether two baby carrots and a cracker
counted as lunch.)

As we were talking about when to set up our first appointment, then came the information I had
forgotten from all those JBLM classes: I didn’t have to go to her. She was coming to me. No
diaper bag Tetris, no praying my son wouldn’t cry at a red light, no wrestling with a car seat
while sweating through my shirt. She would show up — to my house. Win.

That’s actually part of what makes NPSP so powerful: the home visits. These visits are
tailored to each family’s needs and can cover everything from baby-proofing tips and feeding
support to postpartum mental health, toddler behavior, and even sibling adjustment. You can
also choose to meet virtually or at the ACS building — it’s flexible, judgment-free, and based
entirely on what you need.

Naturally, I spent the days leading up to her visit deep-cleaning like the Queen of England was
coming. The night before? My husband meal-prepped like a Viking chef and the kitchen
exploded…but I made sure the playroom sparkled — because obviously, if the baseboards
weren’t scrubbed, someone might report me to imaginary mom jail.

Taylor showed up the next day with a huge smile. I was in sweats, hair possibly unwashed,
hoping I’d at least showered the day before. She brought a little teething toy for my son,
parenting booklets, and zero judgment.

We started with milestone checklists for my son (he was on track), and then she asked gently
about how I was doing. She was a mom. A former NICU nurse. A lactation consultant. She
knew the subtle art of navigating a mom’s “I’m fine” and getting to the truth without being pushy.
I don’t remember every detail — my brain was fogged with anxiety — but I do remember telling
her about the postpartum anxiety that was creeping into full-blown depression. About getting out
of bed 5–8 times a night to check if the front door was locked (despite having a lock app that
told me it was). About the millions of fears in my head and the trillions of tabs open on my phone
trying to answer “is this normal” questions.

Taylor never flinched. She validated every worry. She gave me expert answers, not search
results. She made me feel normal, even when I felt like my brain was broken.

When I needed help switching pediatricians? She provided referrals to local providers —
another service NPSP staff are trained to assist with. When I had questions about solid foods or
the weird shape of that one poop (yep), she had answers backed by real medical and
developmental training — not just mom group speculation.

That first visit with Taylor was the beginning of something bigger than I expected. Yes, I got answers to my parenting questions—but more importantly, I started to feel supported, seen, and a little less alone in the chaos. In the final article in our Striving Baby, Barely Surviving Mom series — Why the NPSP Is So Important — I’ll share how this program didn’t just help me manage the day-to-day of parenting; it became a critical part of my mental health, my sense of self, and the community I didn’t know I was missing. Stay tuned for why the New Parent Support Program matters more than most people realize.

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