What We Miss When We Work In Isolation
Apr 13, 2026
We just wrapped the first iteration of The Babywearing Weekend in Columbus, and as you can imagine, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the event already (more on that soon!).
But the thing that stands out to me immediately, that I couldn’t wait to share, is what it was like to have a room full of educators who all work a little differently - and finally get to see each other in action.
Not teaching or presenting, and not even discussing or “nerding out” (although of course there was plenty of that!).
They were working, discussing, and exploring, side by side, without the pressure to perform.
When our parent models arrived, it was fascinating to see how someone reads body language, how they phrase a cue, and how they navigate a moment that isn’t going as planned… so much of this work lives in the details, the nuance.
No one is doing “just babywearing.”
Everyone brings something else into the room, and when all of that overlaps, the work gets better. And the possibilities get bigger. The experiences: volunteer group work, 1-1, classes, walks, in postpartum visits, as fit checks, as clinical work, and even within the retail space. VAST.
But what really strikes me is that this used to be normal. It wasn’t common to be doing this work alone - community was an inherent part of babywearing education and the broader community. I remember saying,
"Babywearing makes the best friends."
Today, many educators don't get to experience that.
Since COVID, so much of our work has moved online. And while that’s made things more accessible, it’s also made it easier to miss this kind of connection - the kind where you actually see and hear about what someone else brings to the table, and then to start to imagine how your work fits alongside theirs.
If we want to reach the families who aren’t already finding us, we need more than individual educators doing good work in isolation. We need a collective voice.
We need connection, shared perspective, and a way to build something together.
There is room for so many people.
- Not everyone wants to run a business.
- Not everyone wants to lead groups.
- Not everyone has babywearing as their primary lens.
That’s not a problem to solve…it’s the point!
The strength of babywearing education and support comes from that diversity, but only if we’re actually connected enough to see it, learn from it, and move forward together.
So the question becomes:
- How do we create that kind of connection without always being in the same room?
- How do we build a community that isn’t just about babywearing, but about a shared mission?
- How do we learn from each other in a way that actually changes how we show up in our communities and vision for the future?
That’s why we created The Babywearing Weekend, and it’s the work we’re doing together inside the Carry On Collective. Creating space for connection, collaboration, and shared growth, both in person and online, is important work that I don’t take lightly.
Community isn’t optional. It’s the future of this work.
We all hope to see you there.
