My Daughter’s Grandparents Help Make Our Nontraditional Careers Work

I used to think “rich” referred to families that traveled frequently, drove new cars every year, had the freshest sneaker collection (I’m a Chicago south sider, so this one was a big deal), and purchased the name-brand cereal at the grocery store. But in my house, “rich” means something a little different. It’s the privilege of having my daughter’s grandparents show up for her every moment we need them, even if that means 4 a.m.

As a morning show contributor on the nationally syndicated “The Fred Show,” founder and CEO of the Mami Collective (a community for modern moms reclaiming identity, income, and wellness), and new mom to a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, early wake-up calls are not out of the norm for me.

My alarm goes off at 4 a.m., and my husband’s alarm goes off not long after. He’s a Chicago firefighter who works 24-hour shifts, so you can only imagine how tired we both are in the mornings. And none of this would be possible without our daughter’s grandparents.

Help from family makes it all possible

I know what a privilege it is to have a village in 2025. My mother and in-laws live just six minutes away from my husband and me. My sister-in-law also steps in tremendously, and I simply cannot thank her enough. Our nontraditional jobs mean that on top of the early-morning wake-up calls, sometimes, we need help with more than just what was originally on the schedule for the day.

I’m notorious for the last-minute media obligations that come with doing radio, as well as putting out daily fires for the team with The Mami Collective. For many families, dealing with situations like these would mean scrambling for sitters at the last minute, making special accommodations, or even having to cancel, but for us, it’s one simple text message to the grandparents.

Within 15-30 minutes, they’re there and ready to step in. They do the morning routine with our daughter, feed her breakfast, and take her to the park or for long walks. They’re also there helping put her down for a nap or bedtime on those nights when I’m out speaking at an event that same evening. My mom and my husband’s parents split the tasks so effortlessly, and they never make it seem like an inconvenience. To say we’re blessed would be an understatement.

I wasn’t raised with either side of my grandparents present, so seeing my daughter have this opportunity truly heals something in me. My daughter isn’t “watched” while my husband and I are working; she’s played with, cared for, and loved on a level that can’t be described. She’s growing up with her grandparents by her side and who want to be a part of her life. And the truth is, you can’t buy that kind of love.

I know our situation is rare, and I’m thankful we have support

Having help from family and a community to raise children is not new by any means, and now I get what it means when they say, “It takes a village.” But it’s also common to move away from where you grew up for school or work, and fewer people seem to be raising families with the kind of support we have.

I’ve fully realized how rare and special our situation is. Do I get sad when I’m not there in the morning to have breakfast with her? Of course I do. Do I thank my lucky stars for having her grandparents experience those memories with her in my place? You bet I do.

Our daughter is not only growing up with two fully present parents who are doing their best every single day, but she gets to grow up with her babcia (meaning grandma in Polish) and her abuelos (grandparents in Spanish), who are all within a one-mile radius of her. This has given me stability, happiness, and the opportunity for growth in my career.

So yes, my daughter is one lucky baby. She is “rich” because of who shows up for her daily.