Parent Diaries is a monthly series showcasing how real people in Charlotte approach building their families & parenting. Participate.
- If you don’t have children, you can share your Child-Free Diaries anonymously here.
Describe your family structure.
Married. Three kids. Two dogs. One stray cat who lives on our porch. Constant motion.
How old are your kids?
Seven, five, and one.
How much do you spend on childcare?
Childcare has been a full-blown experiment. We’ve done everything—waitlists, moving, church programs, nanny during COVID, after-school care, no after-school care, private vs. public.
- We finally landed on our neighborhood public school and it’s been great.
- Current spend: $4,500/month. Does not include extracurriculars.
Did you always want kids?
I always wanted kids: 3 exactly! like me and my siblings. My husband never saw himself as someone who ever wanted kids until he met me.
How did you know you were ready?
You don’t. You just go.
How did you decide how many kids to have + did you plan their age gap if you have multiple?
I wanted three, close together—let’s get it done. My husband settled on 2—it’s easier to get a table at a restaurant and share a hotel room or play golf.
- After two infertility babies and absorbing the chaos of kids, we thought that we were done.
- Then God said, not quite—and gave us a surprise third. No treatments. Total miracle.
- So I got my three. Just not on our timeline. And as to be expected my husband may or may not be obsessed with that surprise third!
How did you financially prepare for having children?
We didn’t. We went in blind. You don’t realize what it costs until you’re buying berries every three days.
Does or did anyone in your family stay home with the kids? How did you make that decision?
No—but I shifted into a much more flexible role with a family business, and it changed everything.
- I came from 60-hour weeks in banking. Now I can actually step out when someone’s sick (which is always).
- It’s been the biggest quality-of-life upgrade.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before having kids?
Buckle up. And do the things—because they won’t remember what they got for Christmas. They’ll remember where they were and who they were with.
What’s your family’s philosophy around screens/technology and kids?
Intentional, not perfect. We’re clear about what’s allowed and what’s not—but we’re not naive. They’re growing up in it.
- No phones until middle school.
- The Tin Can was gifted from Santa this year, and it has been a hit!
Where’s the best place to vacation with kids and why?
Water. Always. Beach + pool = they disappear for 10 hours and everyone wins. They are tuckered out and it gives a change of scenery!
What’s the most kid-friendly restaurant in Charlotte?
Our rotation:
- Suffolk Punch – for the playground.
- Legion – for the run-wild field.
- Rhino Market – for the games.
- Duckworth’s – for the kids’ menu win.
What’s your favorite thing to do as a family in Charlotte?
Anything outside to teach our kids to be kids. That means creative playing, boredom, and figuring out how to navigate friendships. We spend a ton of time walking or biking around our hood.
- Hanging with other families and friends. At someone’s house, out somewhere easy—it’s less about what we’re doing and more about who we’re with.
What’s the best thing about the stage of parenting you’re in? The most challenging?
Best: watching them become people. Reading, math, sports achievements, personalities—it’s wild.
Hardest: the logistics. It’s constant. Someone always needs something. It makes me tired!
Do you have parenting regrets?
Honestly, not making the shift sooner. I was deep in a corporate role, fully tied to it. Now I have flexibility—and it’s changed everything. I can show up for my kids when it matters.
- That’s the gift. Just wish I figured that out earlier.
Brag on yourself. Tell me about a recent proud parenting moment!
We’re in it. Three kids, two full-time jobs, and both of us building businesses on the side—and the wheels are still on. That feels like a win.
Anything else we should know?
After infertility, we thought we were done—so our third completely reshaped everything. It’s chaotic, humbling, and nonstop. And somehow, exactly right. Literally wouldn’t change it for anything.
