Meet the local mom who created the fastest growing (and most fun) parenting brand in the region.
by Melissa Jacobs
Being a new mom is tough. Being a new mom during the pandemic is tougher. “The pandemic made me feel so isolated,” says Leah Davey, who gave birth to her firstborn in June 2020. “I was desperate to get out of the house with my daughter, but wanted to do that safely.”
Mommy-and-me activities were cancelled by COVID and although Davey is a Berwyn native who graduated from Conestoga High School in 2010, she was at a loss for ideas. A decade-long intermission from the Main Line detached Davey from the local scene. “I lived here my whole life but it’s changed so much since I graduated high school,” she said. “I wasn’t meeting other new moms.”
So, in the summer of 2021, Davey created a play group that met outdoors at a Media tot lot. She announced the meet-up on Facebook, which is where Kayla Matthews spotted it. Matthews and her husband moved to Media from West Chester in April and had their first child in May. She, too, was looking for safe, fun activities for her toddler – and herself. And so, Main Line Ma was born.
Matthews helped Davey get Main Line Ma started and the account grew quickly. “I’m a chronic Instagram scroller,” Davey said with a laugh. “I spent my entire pandemic ‘with’ certain mommy influencers. So I felt that there was a local audience – and need – for this.”
As the account gained momentum (and followers), Davey took the helm. She now runs Main Line Ma on her own, providing activities, community and resources throughout the Philadelphia suburbs. Curated lists of events and interesting activities are posted regularly. Davey researches, writes and designs the content, taking great care to investigate her recommendations before posting about them.
Main Line Ma is so successful that Davey is doing giveaways and other collaborations with local businesses. “We support them, they support us and it’s been a great way to connect with the community,” Davey says.
Davey doesn’t have plans for a website or other social media platforms. “Then again, I didn’t plan to give birth in the middle of a pandemic, so anything is possible,” Davey says.
Visit Main Line Ma on Instagram.
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