Bring Your Daughter to Work Day (Unplanned but Perfect)
Last week, I brought my 3-year-old daughter Edie to work with me in New York City.
It wasn’t planned as a special “Take Your Child to Work Day,” but with our nanny on vacation, I pulled her out of school and turned the day into something even better—a real-time, on-the-ground glimpse of what it means when I say, “Mommy has a meeting.”
Edie was a total trooper. She insisted on packing her own backpack the night before—complete with a change of clothes (just in case), her lunch box, and a water bottle. She was ready.
We started our adventure on the Metro-North train, heading into the city.
From Grand Central, she walked five slow but determined blocks to our first stop of the day. We kicked things off at a client’s home to oversee a very intricate wallpaper installation. My client was so gracious, greeting us both warmly and offering Edie a cookie. She was too shy to eat it then, but proudly tucked it away “for Henry” (her big brother). She recognized my go-to installers, Jerry and Arthur, and gave Jerry a big high-five before taking off her shoes and giving herself a tour of the apartment. It was a beautiful moment—Edie blending into the environment I work so hard to create and manage.
Next, we hopped on the bus up 3rd Avenue to the D&D Building, the mecca of design sourcing. Edie loved it. She darted through showrooms and played a surprisingly adorable game of hide-and-seek among fabric displays. She started to lose a little steam, but managed to rally with snacks she scavenged throughout the building.
Our next stop was the Astor House. When we arrived, Edie calmly announced that it was time for lunch. She found a cozy spot in the Pine Room, unpacked her lunch box, and asked for “a little privacy” while I moved through the townhouse checking on projects. She sat quietly, munching away like a seasoned design assistant on her break. It was honestly kind of iconic.
By this point, I was hungry too. We caught a taxi to a diner next to a client’s home where I had to pick up a few things. We split a plate of fries and debriefed on our day—my favorite meeting of all.
I’ve been reflecting on the deeper meaning behind this spontaneous mother-daughter workday. When I became a mom, I dreamed of having a career that allowed me flexibility—to chaperone the school trip, to be present for the moments that matter, to create space for both passion and parenthood.
It doesn’t always work perfectly—there are missed moments and hard choices—but this day reminded me of why I started my own firm.
Edie got to see what “a meeting” means. She saw the details, the movement, the people, the pulse of a day in design. And I got to show her that it’s possible to do something you love for a living—even if it looks very different from what most people expect. I didn't grow up seeing creative careers modeled around me. In my world, grown-ups went to offices. My mind was blown when I took a gap year in Italy and realized that people actually worked in fashion design. It was a real thing—people went to school for it, built careers around it, and thrived in it.
Later, at Parsons School of Design, that revelation deepened. I studied under professors who weren’t just academics—they were working architects, lighting designers, interior designers, and graphic designers. That exposure was everything. It made me believe I could do it too.
Starting my own business eight years ago was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken.
I had so much self-doubt. But bringing Edie to work and showing her, in real-time, that her mom owns and operates a high-end interior design firm—that was one of those full-circle, pinch-me moments.
I want my kids to grow up knowing they can follow their own dreams, no matter how unconventional. That there are no rules. No boundaries. That they don’t have to fit into a mold—they can create something entirely their own.
Every day, I feel lucky to be obsessed with what I do. I hope Edie saw that—and I hope she carries that feeling with her as she begins to dream about her own future.
