How did your love story begin?

We met in HS, freshman year, I’d walk past “smokers corner” ant the edge of the school property and give him a flower; just for fun, not knowing him or knowing it’d turn into something so special one day! He thought I was the weird girl who’d give out flowers. After 2 years of just being acquaintances, we became fast friends junior year and eventually moved I. Together by the time we were 17. We were entrepreneurs and opened the first licensed day care home in the chicago loop in 1991.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

After one year running an extremely successful & sought after home day care together; against all odds — as two 19 year old kids we worked our tails off to open a 6500sq ft commercial day school opening to full capacity of 72 students on the first day we got our city of chicago license. We have new meaning to grass roots, John built all the shelving/lockers/such so we could save money for the other inventory we needed. We financed things by selling tuition in 6 & 12 mo blocks prior to opening!

What would you do with $20,000?

In 2019, our beloved, amazing, successful school and labor of love of nearly 3 decades was acquired by Bright Horizons Global. We retired early but honestly, we miss working with kids! We’d use the 20k to start something new, something small but meaningful, thinking parent-child classes and drop-in art classes for preschool to 3rd grade.