Laura, Mother, Founder & Creative Director @ Mooseherd Productions, NY

Schools should teach her how to navigate life, especially in ways of cultural acceptance and equity.

Laura is a co-founder and Creative Director at Mooseherd Productions in Brooklyn, New York. She has an incredibly bright and hilarious daughter named Maisie. She was interviewed by her cousin, Nicole.

Imagine your child (or one you care about deeply) is now in their 30s – out of school and starting into adult life.  What do you hope for them about their life?  What would make it a ‘good’ life?

I want Maisie to find the thing that makes her happy. I don’t want her to be limited by money or be financially limited for college. I truly want her to be a life-long learner and to find her own path to happiness. Success looks different for everyone. For me, it’s about self-sufficiency, both emotionally and financially, as well as having confidence in yourself. Success is more of an emotional state than an end point. I also understand that Maisie may feel differently about success than I do—she will have her own definition and if that’s what brings her joy, then I support that.

Success looks different for everyone. For me, it’s about self-sufficiency, both emotionally and financially, as well as having confidence in yourself. Success is more of an emotional state than an end point. I also understand that Maisie may feel differently about success than I do—she will have her own definition and if that’s what brings her joy, then I support that.

What role do you think schooling should play in achieving that ideal good life?

We wanted to pick a school for Maisie that would put her on a path of life-long learning. We wanted a school to teach her how to learn, not just the rote facts and figures.  Schools should teach her how to navigate life, especially in ways of cultural acceptance and equity. They should foster gender equity and should not be a place of competition in how people appear or how much money one has.