Moms Helping Moms

Three Brunswick County moms all had the same problem: They didn’t have family nearby to watch their kids when they had an appointment, or when they wanted to run errands. 

“It’s always a challenge to find child care if you don’t have a built-in family network,” says LIZ LONG. 

As a result, Long, JESSICA MIDDLESWARTH, and LISA DOBSTAFF opened KinderStop in 2019, and their presence in Leland has become a lifeline for parents who need child care in a pinch. 

The drop-in facility offers child care on an hourly basis for children ages one to twelve, and KinderStop also has afterschool programs and summer camps.  

The KinderStop space is bright and airy, and it features several large indoor playsets. The trio has also included a calm room for children who might have sensory sensitivities or may wish to have quiet time to themselves, which they knew would be important from personal experience. “I left my corporate job after my third child was born, and he has special needs,” says Middleswarth.  

When they were building the space, they brought in specialists with the North Carolina Autism Society and other behavior specialists to create a center that was inclusive. While KinderStop is not specific to children with special needs, they are trained to help those families feel comfortable. 

“We have four core principles,” says Middleswarth, “and they are: kindness, safety, engagement, and community.” They have recognized the value in listening to the parents and the kids to meet their needs and say the staff makes an effort to engage with the kids. They play board games, read books, or simply enjoy conversations. 

Both Long and Middleswarth say they see the value of partnering with the community they serve. “We see our parents (out) at Walmart and (we’re) on-site every day,” Long says. They are involved in the day-to-day operations and engaging with the community, like participating in local walks and charity events that are important to their staff and the families. They donate financially to local charities and community functions, and they also donate to various PTAs at local schools.   

The three founders have partnered with schools ranging from Wilmington to Southport to offer on-site afterschool programs. “Our on-site program follows the same core values as our child care center,” Long says. They employ a qualified staff and provide extensive training, and they offer children homework time and free time to play.  

Long and Middleswarth say opening KinderStop was the best decision they, along with Dobstaff, have made. “We knew we wanted to start a business,” Long says. “We wanted to build something that our kids could be at work with us.”  

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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