The Littles Society
Welcome to TLS
Your Journey, Our Support
The Littles Society was created by moms, for moms, because motherhood was never meant to be done alone.
Our Story
Before The Littles Society existed, there were years spent sitting on living room floors as pediatric occupational therapists—working with babies, supporting families, and walking alongside mothers in the earliest stages of their children’s lives.
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As occupational therapists in early intervention, we were invited into some of the most tender seasons of motherhood. We saw the love, the exhaustion, the questions, and the quiet moments of uncertainty that so many mothers carry. Again and again, we noticed the same thing: mothers were doing everything they could, yet so often without the consistent support, guidance, or reassurance they truly needed.
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There were gaps—between appointments, between questions, between what mothers were feeling and what they were told to expect.​ And then, we became mothers ourselves.
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Suddenly, the experience was no longer something we observed—it was something we were living. The long nights. The constant decision-making. The wondering if what we were doing was “right.” Even with a professional background in pediatric development and infant care, there were still moments that felt overwhelming. Moments where reassurance mattered. Moments where connection mattered even more.
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We found ourselves thinking often: what would this feel like without this foundation? Without this knowledge? Because even with it, motherhood can feel like a lot to carry. That realization stayed with us.​ It became clear that what mothers need in the earliest days isn’t just information—they need a place to go with their questions, their thoughts, and their experiences. A place where they feel understood. A place where they can learn, but also exhale.
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The Littles Society was created from that place.
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A space designed to gently bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and real life. A space where expert guidance meets honest conversation. A space where mothers can feel supported not just in moments of concern, but in the everyday realities of early motherhood.
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Here, you don’t have to have it all figured out.
You don’t have to do it alone.
​You are met exactly where you are—with support, with intention, and with a community of mothers walking through it alongside you.
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Because the beginning of motherhood is too important—and too transformative—to navigate without support.
Meet The Team
Melissa Zahradka is a licensed and registered occupational therapist, mother of three, and the founder of The Littles Society.
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Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Melissa attended Towson University in Maryland, where she earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Since becoming licensed in 2016, she remained living in Maryland with her then fiancé and accepted her first job in a outpatient pediatric therapy clinic. Her career then spanned to geriatric home health and early intervention—each experience shaping her understanding of development, caregiving, and the importance of support across the lifespan.
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It was her work in early intervention that most deeply influenced the creation of The Littles Society. Sitting alongside families in their homes during some of the earliest stages of their child’s life, she saw firsthand the gaps in support that many mothers experience—and how much they are often left to navigate on their own.
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In 2021, Melissa and her family relocated to Wake Forest, North Carolina, where they quickly fell in love with the sense of community and the beauty of everyday life in the area. She now lives there with her husband, Drew, and their three children.
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Beyond her professional background, Melissa’s passion for this work is deeply personal. As a mother herself, she understands both the beauty and the complexity of early motherhood—and how meaningful it is to feel supported, informed, and connected during that time.
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When she’s not working with mothers and families, you can find her enjoying a slow breakfast (her favorite meal of the day), baking something in the kitchen, or spending time with her family and friends in their neighborhood—soaking in all that North Carolina has to offer.
Meet Kenna.
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Our Partners
