needs her own village to pass down her culture and language to her kids. Depaz’s kids are bilingual English and Spanish speakers. “I was doing bilingual play dates in my community, and we were able to meet a lot of different families that spoke different languages,” Depaz says. Public libraries offer an array of programs where kids can make crafts, listen to stories or learn how to play chess. Meanwhile, parents can spend quality time with their kids—and also socialize with other parents. Some of it is for friendship and fun, and also about creating a support system. Experts say that feeling connected can help counteract isolation common in early parenthood. Ashley Sargent, 37, mother of two boys, Sam, 8, and Dean, 3, says she pushed herself out of her comfort zone to find friends in the area after moving to the Peninsula in August. Little by little it worked, and she started joining various groups for home-schooling, play dates and moms. “Just being open to meeting people and being bold about it was a big difference,” Sargent says. Jocelyn Perez is a mother of 18-month-old Camila and 6-monthold Mateo. The family moved to Seaside last year while her husband was attending the Defense Language Institute. Perez says it was difficult for her to socialize when she was living in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The lack of social interaction affected her emotionally, and she wanted something different this time around. Perez joined a Facebook group and downloaded the Peanut app in hopes of expanding her social circle—and it has worked to coordinate real-life connections. “It’s nice to just be able to sit down, have some coffee, or socialize with each other and just give each other advice with the stuff that we’re going through, that we can relate to,” Perez says. National Charity League volunteer Molly McAfee high-fives a child after they made a bracelet at MY Museum. The National Charity League is a mother/daughter organization that gets involved in different events. DANIEL DREIFUSS 12 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY® FAMILY 2025-2026 A CANNERY ROW TRADITION PIZZA SEAFOOD PASTA 660 Cannery Row 2nd Level of Steinbeck Plaza on Cannery Row louielinguinis.com 831-648-8500 FREE Clam Chowder Present this COUPON and receive ONE CUP of our Award-Winning Clam Chowder with the purchase of an entree. Limit two per table. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Code: CRVG Trip Advisor Lunch & Dinner Daily Expires 6/30/25
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