When I had my son on April 4, 2020, the world was in the thick of lockdown, and I was placed on furlough by my employer. It turned out to be an unexpected blessing: I was able to stay home with him for his entire first year. When I was called back to work just after his first birthday, I felt overwhelmed by the idea of returning to work and finding full-time childcare.

Despite my years of experience as a nanny and working in childcare centers since I was a teenager, finding the right care for my own child felt monumental. I started doing what so many parents do: researching childcare centers, looking into nannies, and trying to understand what would actually be right for our family. As I navigated the process, I realized just how isolating and difficult it could be, especially for new parents facing a very real timeline for returning to work. It was eye-opening to see how often each family is essentially left to reinvent the wheel on their own.

While I still dream of better system-wide support for parents in the U.S., I realized there was a way I could help. I discovered that I loved interviewing caregivers and that I brought a unique perspective to the process, having experienced childcare from both sides. Even more, I realized how much I cared about helping other families navigate a decision that can feel so personal and overwhelming.

That’s what led me to start Kin. I use my experience to help families make thoughtful, confident childcare decisions and find care that genuinely fits their needs. I know how much is wrapped up in this decision, and my goal is to make the process feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more supported.