Creating a Legacy for My Children: A Story of Family and Business

Life has a way of making us pause and reflect—sometimes in the most unexpected ways. For me, it happened when I realized that the balance I thought I had between work and family crumbled overnight. I was working incredibly hard in my career, giving everything I had to provide for my family, but at what cost? I found myself asking a simple, yet important question: What’s the point of all this work if I can’t enjoy the life I’m working so hard to build?

Before starting Monkeeroos, I worked 60-hour weeks as a furniture sales rep. I was earning a solid six-figure income, and life seemed to be falling into place. I traveled up and down the East Coast, visiting stores and making deals. My husband and I were living the dream—we sold our house to build our dream home, and I had a beautiful 4-month-old daughter, Amelia. We were happy, and life felt right.

But then, everything changed and my question was answered for me. 

  My boss let me go. It was during the height of the pandemic, and with no one hiring, I found myself unemployed for the first time since graduating college. And while I didn’t have a paycheck coming in anymore, my bills and expenses didn’t magically disappear.   It’s a sobering realization: No matter how hard we work, no matter how much we save or plan, our livelihoods are always just one decision away from financial hardship.

This realization led me to a choice that would change everything. I wanted to invest in generational wealth—not just for me and my husband, but for Amelia. I wanted to build something lasting that would give her the opportunity to live more than just to work. I wanted her to understand the value of hard work, but also to understand the importance of balance—a balance I was determined to achieve, no matter what it took.

During this time, I was gifted a bamboo romper for Amelia from a small company, and it changed my perspective on everything. Amelia had sensitive skin, and I had struggled with eczema outbreaks. But this romper was different. It was hypoallergenic, so Amelia’s eczema started to fade. It was temperature-regulating, so she started sleeping through the night instead of waking up in a sweaty mess. And, to my surprise, it lasted much longer than her other clothes. Even though she was quickly growing out of her much larger clothes, this romper fit her for well over a year.

Bamboo fabric, I learned, had this magic ability to stretch and last longer than most materials, which was perfect for growing kids. But then I discovered a much bigger issue: the bamboo viscose that’s commonly used in the market today is soaked in harsh chemicals to break down the fibers. These chemicals not only soak into the environment but into the skin of the child wearing it. This was a huge problem for me and one I was not willing to accept. I wanted the best for my daughter, and that meant finding a safer, more sustainable option.

After months of research, we found an alternative: bamboo lyocell, which is made using a closed-loop process that doesn’t rely on harmful chemicals. It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s the safest—and the most sustainable. This was the beginning of the dream that would become Monkeeroos.

I reached out to my sourcing partners in the furniture industry, and within a few months, I placed my first order for bamboo pajamas. Three years later, Monkeeroos is thriving, growing over 50% year over year, and reaching families just like mine who care about sustainability, quality, and their children’s well-being.

It wasn’t an easy decision. Starting and running a company has meant long hours and a lot of hard work. But the difference now is that I can bring my daughter to work with me if I want and be home every night for our bedtime routine. Amelia, now 4 years old, and I slip into our Monkeeroos pajamas, snuggled up for bedtime stories, each night knowing that everything we’re sacrificing now is a building block for her.

And I can't forget to introduce you to our newest member of the Monekeroos family...my now 5-month-old son, Kade. As I watch him grow, I’m more determined than ever to create a future where he, too, will benefit from the hard work I’m putting in today. Building a business is a sacrifice, but being able to bring my children into this world, to see them run around the warehouse and make memories in our families pajamas, makes it all worth it.

Starting Monkeeroos was not just about creating a successful business; it was about changing the trajectory of my family’s path. I wanted to create a life where my kids could experience the benefits of hard work and the importance of balance. I want them to know that work is important, but so is family. It’s about being present—whether that’s sharing a meal, reading bedtime stories, or having the flexibility to drop everything when they need me.

  Monkeeroos is more than a business; it’s my way of giving back to the community, creating something that helps other families, and providing a future where my children, and others like them, can experience the freedom to live life to the fullest.