Our steering committee volunteers their time, skills, and passion to bring Mom’s Morning Retreat to our community. Motherhood, sisterhood and connection are the foundation of our group.
Emily N.
My life journey has gifted me with motherhood to two amazing teenagers and three quirky cats. My family has moved 7 times in 16 years: I know what it’s like to be new, and then do it all over again. And again. And again. I am passionate about women building up other women in the undervalued emotional labor of active hands-on parenting. Moms Morning Retreat offers an IRL encounter with laughter, tears, slow self-disclosure, negotiation and true communication: an environment for real growth. As in all things, we don’t have to be perfect: we do have to be present.
Just show up!
Maggie Kizer – Digital Community
I was born and raised right here on Bainbridge Island and moved back in 2019 to raise my own family. I have been called the “yellow pages of Bainbridge” by other mamas, so reach out to me if you’re new to the island and looking for all the things. I joined MMR in Fall 2019 and I’m so grateful to give back now on the steering committee to this community that has buoyed me for so many years.
With a background in education and family support, I love helping build warm, welcoming spaces where families can take a breath, connect, and recharge. When I’m not helping out with MMR or volunteering at Helpline House, you can usually find me out exploring the Pacific Northwest – paddle boarding, walking, adventuring —with my husband Lyle, our son Eli, and our daughter Grace.
Molly Cowan – Social Outreach & Communications
As a Washington native, I grew up visiting most of my family on Bainbridge Island often. From Edmonds to Bellingham, Austin, Seattle and now here – I feel grateful that my dream of settling down on the island is finally coming true. I have two young children (ages 5 months and 2 years) and am married to my college sweetheart, Coby. When I first moved to the island freshly postpartum I experienced feelings of loneliness and isolation and longed for a community of other moms. When I searched for Mom’s Morning Retreat and saw that their first meeting of the year was the next day, I took it as a sign that this might be the place for me. Ever since, I have felt incredibly cared for, held, listened to and experienced so much joy from this beautiful community.
Instead of saying “in my free time”… (because what is free time as a parent?!) I find joy and purpose in spending time with family, being outside, baking yummy food for friends, watching movies, writing and photography/film. I’m so looking forward to meeting new and returning moms this year and spending precious mornings together. Feel free to reach out to me anytime, for a listening ear, if you could use an organized meal train or would like to plan a specific event. mollyccowan@gmail.com
Anna Gottlieb – Social Outreach & Communications
I grew up on Bainbridge Island and (after a series of adventures in Portland, Spain, Seattle and Austin) now happily live in north Kitsap county with my husband, 5 year old daughter and 3 year old son. This area along the Salish seashore has always felt like home to me and it has been a joy to put down new roots and grow community here in this season of life. Becoming a mom during the COVID pandemic made the longing for connection with other moms especially acute, and I am so thankful that I found Mom’s Morning Retreat back in 2023. MMR has been such a grounding, nourishing, and supportive space for me over the past few years and has led to blossoming and deepening connection within myself and in community.
I am excited to be joining steering this year to ensure that this space can continue to flourish and bring us together. Outside of parenting, I work part time as a therapist specializing in parenting, perinatal and pediatric mental health, and enjoy reading, travel, baking sourdough bread, paddle boarding, and jumping in the Sound as often as possible. Feel free to reach out to me anytime, if you could use support of any kind, to plan a get together, or just want to chat! (Email annajoyscott@gmail.com or text 206-499-6361 for a quicker response!)
Mom's Morning Retreat 