From the Boardroom to the Playroom

Why I Built This

People often ask how I went from managing billion-dollar budgets to running a local play space. The answer is simple: Building things and caring for community isn’t just a career shift for me—it’s in my blood.

Roots & Realizations

I was born on a Christmas tree farm, watching my dad work the land. My grandfather ran a hair salon out of his basement, cutting hair on nights and weekends. Growing up, I saw business as a family affair—a way to serve neighbors with grit and togetherness. I didn’t realize then that this spirit of “doing it together” was unique; it was just part of me.

Growing up watching family business serve neighbors with grit and togetherness.

I took that work ethic into the corporate world. I climbed the mountain, ran multiple businesses, and hit the executive milestones. But when I finally got to the top, I looked around and realized I didn’t know why I had climbed it. I was tired of the race.

The Question That Changed Everything

My dad once asked me a simple question that stopped me in my tracks: “How much is enough?”

That question became the foundation of Family Room. I realized I didn't want the corporate chase; I wanted to pay my bills and see my family. Deep down, I knew I was always looking for a bigger purpose. I wanted to help people find their humanity through genuine connections with each other, and I wanted to create a space where other families could find that same sense of “we are enough.”

Trusting Our Intuition

We live in a culture that tells us we constantly need to do more. We are told by marketers that if we don’t spend thousands on hyper-structured enrichment classes before our kids even start school, they’ll somehow fall behind. But as an educator and a mother, I’ve seen that this pressure often causes more harm than good—creating financial strain, household stress, and profound disconnection.

This isn't about running faster. It’s about doing what actually makes sense for your family and listening to your own intuition. It’s about realizing that less really is more. We don’t need more rigid schedules; we need unhurried time with our children, less rushed transitions, and the space to take a few deep breaths.

We can’t single-handedly change the entire world outside our doors, but in here, we can completely slow it down for ourselves and our children.

I remember vividly sitting on a cold bench one weekend, trapped in that awkward gap between nap time and dinner, nerves fried, just needing a safe place to be. It didn’t exist. So, I emptied my savings to build it. I went 100% in on this not as a side hustle, but because I believe our neighborhood deserves a collective circle that feels like an exhale.

I built this business with my own money and my own hands. Come in, say hi, and let us take care of you for a while.