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Celebrating 30 Years of Friendship with SMMC

SMMC Community
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP WITH SMMC

By: Ellen Seebold and Stephanie Ryder | December 9, 2025

Southern Marin Mothers’ Club has been a source of friendship, connection and community for families in Marin for more than 30 years. As we navigate the early years of motherhood, we find inspiration and wisdom from those who have years of parenting experience under their belts. That’s why we are incredibly honored to share the story of 12 moms who joined SMMC in 1996. They developed lasting friendships that have nourished them through joyous and difficult times. Ellen Seebold and Stephanie Ryder share their ‘90s memories and wisdom for today:

1. Can you tell us about how your group first came together in 1996 and what those early days were like as new moms in SMMC?

Our babies were born from August 1995-December 1995. SMMC grouped us together, and one member invited people from their neighborhood and birthing class. There were also two moms that joined with their kids a couple of years later after a group consensus. It was a lifeline to have a group of great women who were all going through similar things at the same time as new moms—to be able to talk about how many times you were up last night, what’s the best baby food, when to wean, how to potty train, among other things!

2. What role did SMMC play in helping you all connect and form such a lasting bond?

SMMC joined us as a group based on our babies’ ages and we met weekly at our homes or local parks. We continued to meet for years, as our families grew with more children. Some of us served on the SMMC board. We stayed in touch even as our kids went to different schools and some moved out of Marin.

1st Moms Group photo, 1996
Top left: Susan Zimmer (Ellie), Jan Hiti (Carter), Stefani Dawson (Sierra), Edie Zusman (Adam), Lisa Nicklanovich (Andrew), Stephanie Ryder (Charlie) | Bottom left: Alison Ferguson (Bryce & Elise), Liz Schumacher (Noah), Ellen Seebold (Taylor), Renee Chuljian (Cassie)

3. Over the past 30 years, what kinds of milestones or traditions have you celebrated together?

As our children aged and we stopped meeting with them at parks or homes, us moms continued to gather for annual events such as the Oscars, which started as a home gathering, and for the past few years is now a girls’ weekend away (such as Calistoga!). We meet every year for holiday brunch with Secret Santa gifts. At the 10-year mark on Mother’s Day, we had a celebration with all the families, husbands and kids. We have gone on ski trips to Tahoe as a moms group and when one mom moved to Boise, we had a group trip to visit her in 2023. A few years ago, one member enlisted us as part of Clean Mill Valley to clean the median area on Miller Avenue once a month. We love meeting for coffee first at Starbucks, and then helping to clean up our town!

4. How has your friendship evolved as your children have grown — and now as many of you step into a new season of life?

We grow more grateful every year that we have each other. One of us had cancer and during the pandemic we would gather outside her home with signs to tell her we loved her. When she died, we had a private moms group ceremony at Stinson Beach in remembrance. We are now gathering closely around another mom who is battling metastatic breast cancer. It has deepened our bonds and connection to one another. We are now witnessing together our “babies” getting engaged and married. We are looking forward to a grandmother’s group when they start having their own babies! We will meet at the parks with our grandkids and remember the early SMMC days!

10-year mark Mothers’ Day celebration
Top left: Susan Zimmer, Ellen Seebold, Jan Hiti | Bottom left: Alison Ferguson, Stefani Dawson, Liz Schumacher, Stephanie Ryder, Edie Zusman, Annie Lazarus, Renee Chuljian (plus an extra 12 children from the 1996 photo!)

5. What does this 30th anniversary celebration mean to you all?

We were all present at one of our own 30th birthday celebrations 28 years ago, and now we are celebrating our firstborns’ 30th birthdays! Though we have separate individual relationships with one another, celebrating holidays and traveling together, as a group, we remain solid. We know each other so well. It is such a gift. We are planning to “go big!” to celebrate our 30th anniversary – likely for the annual Oscars’ weekend party at Cavallo Point and maybe we will celebrate all year!

6. Looking back, what advice would you give to newer SMMC moms who are just starting to build their own circles of friendship and support?

Those early years of being new moms together are invaluable. It is such a vulnerable time, and having a group of friends with similar-age kids for support made all the difference.

7. Is there anything else you’d like to share about your journey or what this community has meant to you?

We are so grateful for the Southern Marin Mothers Club for connecting us!

Current 2025 Moms Group!
From left: Liz Schumacher, Stefani Dawson, Ellen Seebold, Renee Chuljian, Annie Lazarus, Jan Hiti, Edie Zusman, Susan Zimmer, Stephanie Ryder, Alison Ferguson. Original member, Lisa Nicklanovich, moved to Colorado 25 years ago; Barry Smeltzer, may she rest in peace, died in October 2020.