I’m overjoyed to share that When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Lots of Things, the children’s book I coauthored with my daughter Lily, is officially out in the world!

This project is incredibly close to my heart — not just because it’s a book, but because it’s a dream that literally came to me in my sleep.

Years ago, while I was wrapping up my doctoral dissertation, I had a vivid dream telling me to write a children’s book. The message was crystal clear: kids are constantly asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” — with the expectation that they pick one thing. But I’ve always felt that was the wrong question.

Kids (and adults, too) are allowed to be lots of things. We don’t need to squeeze ourselves into one box.

So I wrote a draft based on that first dream. But it didn’t feel quite right — until I had a second dream. I woke up with the phrase “Box Factory” in my mind. That was the missing piece. I revised the manuscript, and then…I let it sit. For years.

At the time, I was already a mom to a bright, beautiful two-year-old named Lily. I was busy, life kept moving, and the book quietly waited.

When Lily turned seven, I pulled the draft back out and read it to her. I told her how it came to me in dreams, and I asked if she wanted to help me revise it. She jumped in with both feet — giving thoughtful, clever edits that elevated the book in ways only a child could. Her instincts were incredible. She made it sharper, more lyrical, and even more heartfelt.

So now, here we are — Lily and I, coauthors of our very first children’s book, proudly self-published and available on Amazon.

When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Lots of Things is a playful, poetic celebration of kids who are still becoming — the ones who want to be scientists and artists, leaders and caretakers, comedians and explorers. It reminds children (and all of us) that it’s okay to be many things, and that curiosity is something sacred.

One of my favorite lines says:

Thank you for celebrating this moment with us. I’m so proud of Lily, and so grateful this little dream — one that came to me while I slept — finally made its way into the hands of other dreamers.

You can grab your copy of When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Lots of Things now on Amazon. And if you enjoy it, we’d love your help spreading the word — post a review, share with a friend, or tag us online.