Motherhood, Isolation and the Power of Showing Up

Every week, somewhere in Tacoma, a group of mothers meet for a simple ritual: a walk. No sign-ups, no dues, no expectations. Strollers roll alongside baby carriers. Conversations start easily and pause often for feedings, snacks, a fussy toddler or a much-needed break. For the women who show up, these walks are about more than exercise. They’re a lifeline.

In Tacoma, a growing chapter of The Mom Walk Collective is tapping into something many mothers feel acutely but rarely articulate: how isolating modern motherhood can be, and how hungry moms and other care givers are for low-pressure, real-life connection.

A quiet crisis of isolation

Motherhood has always been demanding, but for many parents today it is also profoundly lonely. In 2023, then U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that loneliness had reached the level of a public-health crisis. Research suggests parents are feeling that strain acutely: In a 2024 Ohio State University survey, about two-thirds of U.S. parents said the demands of parenthood sometimes or frequently feel isolating. A recent literature review found that about 1 in 3 new parents reported always or often feeling lonely during pregnancy and the first five years of parenthood. Research consistently shows higher rates of loneliness, anxiety and depression during the postpartum period, especially when social support is limited.

For generations, extended family networks, neighbors and informal caregiving circles helped buffer those early years of parenting. Today, those structures are often fragmented by geography, work schedules and the rising cost of living. Many parents find themselves raising children far from family, juggling the logistics of dual incomes or navigating caregiving largely on their own.

These days, isolation isn’t personal, it’s structural, shaped by systems that leave little room for community.

A simple antidote to loneliness

The Mom Walk Collective grew out of that need. What began as a grassroots idea has expanded into a network of more than 300,000 moms across 350-plus cities, primarily in the U.S. and Canada — all organized around the same low-pressure premise: walking together, regularly. While the focus is on connecting mothers, some local chapters also host family-friendly walks or events where partners or other caregivers are welcome.

It’s not a fitness club, and it’s not a parenting class. There are no memberships, no productivity goals and no expectation that anyone show up polished or prepared. Walking, organizers say, is the medium because it’s accessible, gentle and flexible enough to accommodate real life. The power lies in the pairing of movement and connection.

Bringing the walk to Tacoma

Kristen (who requested her last name not be used), the stay-at-home mom of a 3-year-old daughter, helped bring The Mom Walk Collective to Tacoma after relocating to the area last year. Though she grew up in the Pacific Northwest, moving cities with a young child left her without the informal network many parents rely on.

“I know how it feels to need community,” she says. “I wanted to help create a space for moms in Tacoma to connect, and to find that for myself, too.”

Tacoma’s walks began in June of 2025 and have steadily grown. Attendance varies from week to week, typically ranging from three to 15 moms, but more than 50 have attended at least one walk so far. The group meets at public parks and trails around the city, with at least one weekday and one weekend walk each month to accommodate different schedules. Plans are communicated via the group’s Instagram page, and any mom is welcome to join.

The paths are stroller- and baby-wearing friendly. Safety is emphasized, and there’s only one rule: no mom left behind. The group pauses as needed for feedings, snacks or breaks, normalizing the interruptions that often make parents feel unwelcome elsewhere.

“I hope that any mom who attends a walk feels less alone,” says Kristen. “Parenting can be really isolating at times, even if you're not physically alone.” She’s seen that shift happen in real time: moms meeting for the first time on a walk, exchanging numbers and going on to form close friendships outside the group. Practical resources are shared freely, too — recommendations, referrals and hard-won advice passed along from one parent to another.

In addition to walks, the Tacoma chapter hosts a monthly mom’s night out, usually dinner at a local restaurant, with plans to expand into other activities like craft nights or workout classes.

What moms find when they show up

For Kelly Miller, a Tacoma mom with a 2-year-old daughter, joining her first walk meant stepping outside her comfort zone. An introvert by nature, she was nervous about attending, but quickly felt at ease.

“Everyone was instantly warm and welcoming,” she says. “We had so much in common to talk about: our kids, the challenges of motherhood and advice from moms with older children. I couldn’t wait to join the next one.”

Miller works full time as an accountant, while her husband stays home with their daughter. Many parent meetups happen during the workday, making them inaccessible to working moms. Tacoma’s Mom Walk chapter intentionally plans some evening and weekend gatherings, a detail Miller says made all the difference.

Since joining, she describes feeling part of a larger community, one she can turn to for advice, reassurance or simply understanding. “It doesn’t feel like my husband and I are in this alone,” she says. “And I feel more rooted in Tacoma as I make friends and explore the city.”

That sense of rooting — both socially and geographically — is a recurring theme among attendees. Moms exchange phone numbers, share resources and often meet up outside the scheduled walks. Some talk openly about hard seasons; others prefer to just listen. Support doesn’t always come in the form of solutions. Sometimes it’s simply knowing someone else has been there.

Why walking works

Research backs up what these moms experience firsthand. Walking — even at low intensity — has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety compared with inactivity, and higher daily step counts are associated with fewer depressive symptoms overall. In studies focused on the postpartum period, walking and other physical activity are linked with improvements in mood and reduced depressive symptoms. Broader reviews of physical activity also find that movement boosts mood, eases stress and supports emotional well-being.

Just as important is the structure itself. Side-by-side walking can feel less intimidating than face-to-face conversation. There’s no pressure to maintain eye contact or carry a conversation without pauses. The format allows for both vulnerability and companionable silence.

The Mom Walk Collective is intentionally open and free, welcoming moms at every stage — first-time parents, seasoned caregivers and everyone in between. But organizers are clear-eyed about the limits.

Scheduling conflicts, accessibility challenges and childcare realities still exist. Not every mom can attend every walk, and not every need can be met by a single group. Kristen sees that flexibility as a key feature of the walks. “If a mom can’t make it one week, that’s okay,” she says. “I hope she can join us next time.”

The Tacoma chapter continues to adapt, varying times and locations, listening to feedback and expanding offerings, while keeping the barrier to entry intentionally low.

Rebuilding the village, one walk at a time

Across Washington, Mom Walk chapters have sprung up in communities from Bellevue and Issaquah to Wenatchee, Woodland and Moses Lake. Their growth points to a simple truth: Community still matters, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.

In an era when many traditional support systems have eroded, grassroots, peer-led communities are stepping in to fill the gaps with simple, repeatable acts of connection. A walk. A conversation. A shared understanding that parenting was never meant to be done alone.

For the moms gathering on Tacoma’s trails, that quiet recognition may be the most powerful thing of all.

Looking for your village? Connect with other local parents and caregivers through one of these groups:

• The Mom Walk Collective: Free, informal organized walks for moms in Issaquah, Fall City, Snoqualmie, Tacoma, JBLM and Moses Lake. New cities are occasionally added; check the website to find your nearest location (or start a group in your city).
• PEPS: Parent peer-support groups (including expectant parents, newborns, parents of teens, affinity groups and single parent groups) with both online and select in-person meetings in Greater Seattle.
• Families of Color Seattle (FOCS): Location- and stage-specific peer-led parent support groups and resources.
• MomCo (formerly MOPS): A Christian faith-based network of neighborhood mothers’ groups.
• Parent Trust for Washington Children: Offers resources, community education and coaching designed to strengthen families and parenting confidence.
• Listening Mothers: Mindful parenting courses for parents of babies from birth through 6 months.
• Seattle Children’s website includes a directory of classes, groups and resources throughout the region: Positive Parenting Program at Seattle Children’s.