A Summer of Growth: Working Side by Side with My Daughter in Our Home Office

By 9 a.m., my daughter and I are in our "office," which includes two laptops, two mugs of tea, and one very persistent cat who wants in and out of the front door all day.

My daughter is 21 and working her first corporate internship remotely. I'm a college writing professor teaching summer courses online. Our home's screened-in porch has become a workplace for the two of us — where we clock hours, share space, and learn how to work side by side.

Working side-by-side is something new for us

My four children grew up watching me teach online from this same porch, long before Zoom meetings became a daily phrase in most households. They instinctively learned when to be quiet or when to step around my laptop. Over the years, they saw me not just as a mom, but as a professional — someone who led meetings, answered emails, and managed her own schedule. But now, my daughter sits next to me. Only this time she's not watching, she's working.

We both benefit from the shared space

My daughter and I aren't just coexisting; we're partnering. I give her space to do her job, and she respects mine. In the process, we're learning how to be adults together, as peers. That shift has felt real for us this summer. My daughter doesn't need me to structure her day or check in on her progress. But she's learning how to balance screen time with self-care, how to navigate ambiguous instructions, and how to read between the lines in professional emails. She's learning adulting skills, and I'm learning to let go.

I'm celebrating this new phase of our relationship

The impact has been subtle but powerful for us. My daughter sees my professional life up close, and I see her step into her own. Watching her work gives me a front-row seat to the person she's becoming: smart, capable, and focused in a way I admire. We don't always talk about it, but we feel it. And we carry it.