When entrepreneur Gabby Slome had her first baby in 2017, she was not prepared for all the
"When I had my first child, I thought I was on top of the world," says Slome, CEO of the Cooper Parenting platform and now a mother of three. "I was at the height of my career, I was having a baby, and I had done a lot to prepare. When the baby came, I realized I had zero preparation for what comes after when you are actually taking care of a human, and I realized I was not alone in that."
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Slome met another mother with similar feelings at a parenting group, and the two began building their platform, which launched in 2023. Expecting parents to those with children up to age 14 can join groups based on their child's age or their family dynamics, and can find guidance on specific topics like sleep advice for babies or managing a child's ADHD. Members are also matched with an expert parent coach based on their family's particular needs who they can meet with weekly, and are given a tailored curriculum. Group sessions are an opportunity to share experiences and advice within a larger group of parental peers.
"As kids grow, the challenges continue to change and you continue to need support," says Slome. "How do we create community, and on the other side, expertise? We have groups of parents who are single by choice, divorced, same sex couples, parents with children who are neurodiverse — when you're trying to find your village, we help quiet the noise."
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This "noise" also comes at a cost, to both working parents and their employers. A survey by OnePoll found that parents spend time seeking out answers from Google an average of six times a day, and research from RethinkFirst found that 74% of parents missed work in 2022 due to their children's mental health or academic issues. One-third of these parents missed a week or more per year, adding up to an estimated $65 billion in lost productivity.
The multiplace levels of support parents have access to through Cooper gives parents the security that they're getting quick, reliable answers, Slome says. Whatever the question, a parent is likely to find it in one place.
"Whether it's breastfeeding, tantrums, curfews, the best stroller — whatever it may be at whatever stage you are in, you're spending tons of time sifting through all the resources out there and trying to validate which is correct," says Slome. "We do the research and then we personalize it for you and your family. We can troubleshoot, we have workshops, we have open office hours, we can book a one-on-one chat with an expert; at the end of the day, we're reducing stress and increasing confidence."
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Providing a parent support platform, or the funds to offset the cost of joining one, is one way employers can help parents save time and achieve peace of mind, which in turn allows them to focus on work at the proper times. Slome emphasizes the positive effects of offering resources for parents with children at any age, both in terms of work-life balance and workplace culture, as employees feel cared for and camaraderie is built among coworkers who participate.
"We're not only helping parents deal with today, but also helping them see around the corner to support every developmental stage," she says. "Things like empathy, resilience, setting boundaries — these things don't happen overnight. This helps humanize [the parenting experience]."
