Meet Three Families Who Live, Love and Work Together

Natalie and Alfredo Cerpa, Lisa and Luis Toro, and Allison and Jeff Rodgers.
Published May 2015 in Memphis Parent

Maintaining a strong marriage, raising children, running a business — each is tough in its own right. So imagine doing all three with your spouse. Dr. Lee Horton, a psychologist specializing in marriage counseling, says couples who are successful at both working and living together are able to differentiate between work time and marital time.

“When couples aren’t getting along at work, it is usually a marital issue. At work you ask for respect, at home you ask for caring.” It’s especially important to maintain a loving, caring relationship when you also work together.

We asked three couples how they find a balance between business and family.


Natalie & Alfredo Cerpa | Greenfield Arena

Natalie and Alfredo opened their business before they got married or had kids. A love of soccer brought them together and in March 2011 they opened Greenfield Arena in Midtown. (They married in 2012.) It’s an indoor facility with a turf soccer field, a viewing area, TVs, and a concession stand. They’ve been very successful in building their business, with leagues ranging from U8 (Under 8) to O40 (Over 40) — boys, girls, women, men, and coed, there’s something here for everyone.

Alfredo handles operations while Natalie tackles the admin side of the business. “We do the visioning together,” explains Natalie. “Where we are going next — that takes both of us.”

Both hold full-time jobs in addition to managing Greenfield. In November of 2014, they opened a second location in Bartlett just days before their first child was born, prematurely. Since then, Natalie has had to learn how to simplify her life. “I just can’t get it all done in the same amount of time anymore. So prioritizing and identifying some smaller objectives which will lead to reaching the larger goals eventually has been helpful,” she explains.

Natalie says it can be hard to balance between business and family because it all gets intermixed. “If you want to find balance, you have to find things to do or talk about that have nothing to do with work.”

She does think their shared passion for soccer, which brought them together and spawned Greenfield, helps their relationship. “It’s still something we enjoy doing together and it’s good to have something in common.”

When asked how she makes time for her newborn son, she laughs and says, “How do I find time for work? I have no choice. At this point, he wins.” Her son’s early arrival didn’t allow her to get all of her ducks in a row at work as she had planned, but she has found some qualified people who she can hand over some of her duties to.

“I’ve always been so career driven, but my end goal has always been to have time for children. Finding the right combination of opportunity, markets, value, and profit means I can work less and live more,” she says.


Lisa & Luis Toro | City & State

Lisa and Luis Toro just opened City & State on Broad Avenue in March. It’s a very sleek, modern coffee shop with a unique retail area attached. City & State celebrates products that are quality, heritage, and fair trade.

They scour the country, and sometimes beyond, to find the best goods. “Coffee is the perfect pairing,” explains Lisa. “People can come in without any expectation to buy.”

They met while working together at Hilton Hotels and Resorts and knew right away they wanted to be together. “We met in January and got married in August of 2010.” Lisa has a 9-year-old daughter and Luis a 13-year-old son, both children are from previous marriages.

Lisa loves meeting people and making connections. “Working in digital, designing and developing websites started to feel extremely impersonal. Everything was online,” she says. Traveling in other cities and seeing the possibilities got her and Luis really excited about starting a new business together — one that would get them back in the community and allow them to spend their days together.

Lisa says that when they are doing different things, the relationship struggles. “At Hilton we rode to work together, ate lunch together, and discussed everything. We pushed each other in a really good way.”

For now, Luis remains at Hilton, but he gets up early to make the kids’ lunches before opening the coffee shop at 7:30. “He sends me texts all day long,” says Lisa. “We are really missing each other.”

The Toros have been married for almost five years and Lisa says they have a very high-level partnership. They support each other and have complementary skills. “If I didn’t have Luis helping, forget it. If we weren’t together, City & State wouldn’t be happening,” she says.

Since the shop has just opened, they are working on a new normal. Lisa takes the kids to school and picks them up from aftercare once the shop closes at 4 p.m. “I always feel guilty no matter what,” says Lisa. “I feel guilty for not being with my daughter, but then I feel guilty for not letting her be independent too.”

Lisa makes sure to focus on the family until everyone is in bed. Then she sends emails, orders inventory, and reconciles the books. “There’s always something to be done. Sometimes I let it wait,” she says.

The Toros only have their children every other weekend and since the shop closes at 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m.on Sundays, they can still fit in some quality family time. “It has been a bit of a struggle since opening, but we take turns and we’ve had friends and family help out.”


Allison & Jeff Rodgers | Allison Rodgers Photography & Kitbash Design

Jeff and Allison Rodgers met at Good Advertising and then had their own freelance business for 10 years. Now, Allison remains busy with her boutique photography studio while Jeff heads his newly launched graphic design firm, Kitbash Brand Design. The two work in the same building, an airy studio space they refurbished on Collierville Square. They have two daughters, Fable (13), and Ever (8 ).

Jeff says the key to balancing work and family is setting boundaries.

“The first year, my office was over the garage. My work was at home so when the kids were in bed, I’d think of that stack of work and go upstairs and work until midnight. Then the whole night was gone.” Later, when he had more space and his office wasn’t at home, he decided to leave work at the office.

“I created personal boundaries. Something is wrong if I can’t get my work done between 9 and 5.”

The same goes for Allison. Her photography business is 90 percent family portraits. “But she stopped working weekends a long time ago,” says Jeff. “Allison decided to accept the loss of customers who wouldn’t come in during the week. Her business is high end, not high volume.”

Jeff says they’ve never gotten to a point where they can’t talk about work but he says they try not to talk about it all of the time. Their shared passion does help their marital relationship. “We’re both artists and we respect each other. We can look at each other’s work and help. I trust her opinion.”

As far as honoring family time, Jeff says he has to be deliberate. “I schedule it or it won’t happen.” They unplug at dinner — no phones or TV. Afterwards, Jeff goes outdoors with his Ever most nights for a walk or a bike ride. And on Sundays, you’ll find the Rodgers attending church together, followed with dinner out.

The designer acknowledges, too, that family vacations are just as important as client meetings. “I put them on the calendar and I stick to them.”

'Retro Baby' gives parents back-to-basics advice to help child development

Published October 7, 2013 in the Commercial Appeal

There’s a proliferation of bouncers, walkers, carriers, electronic toys and “educational” videos on the market promising to make parents’ lives easier and children smarter, but according to a new book, when used in excess they can be harmful to baby and impede proper development.

Local pediatric occupational therapist and child development specialist Dr. Anne Zachry, author of the new book “Retro Baby: Cut Back on All the Gear and Boost Your Baby’s Development With More Than 100 Time-Tested Activities” (American Academy of Pediatrics), wants to help parents and caregivers get back to basics and understand the importance of one-on-one play with children during the early stages of life.

“The average middle-class mom spends $9,000-$12,000 on baby gear,” says Zachry, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. This can be a costly mistake, she says.

Before working at UT, Zachry was an occupational Therapist for Shelby County Schools for 20 years. In the mid- to late-’90s, she began noticing that many of her referrals were for children (ages 5-6) with handwriting issues. She noted that they sat slumped in their seats and had weak hands. She sent home questionnaires to the parents and discovered that as babies, many of the children did

not like “tummy time” (dedicated time for babies to play on their stomachs) and skipped crawling — both important for developing upper-body strength.

“As a result of the ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign in 1992, many parents resisted tummy time, viewing it as possibly dangerous,” says Zachry. “Overall, the campaign was very successful in reducing the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) by over 50 percent. By the same token, flat spots on babies’ heads increased by 50-60 percent.”

Zachry agrees that babies need to sleep on their backs, but emphasizes that they also need to play on their stomachs. One of her recommended activities is to spread a blanket on the floor, and interest the baby in various toys to make tummy time fun. Also in the book are how-to’s for making toys. “I like to sew and craft, and I wanted to add something to the book so it wouldn’t be boring,” she says.

One of Zachry’s favorites is something she calls a Roly Poly.

“You fill an empty two-liter bottle of Coke with glitter, soap and water, and glue the top on. Babies can push and roll the bottle, which in turn motivates the baby to crawl,” she says.

Dr. Rachel Y. Moon, pediatrician and SIDS researcher at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, agrees that tummy time is crucial for proper development. “It’s important for babies to get tummy time on a daily basis when they are awake and supervised. You don’t need any special equipment to do this.

“This can also be a good time for parents and siblings to interact with the baby,” Moon says. “Siblings like to get down on the floor and play with the baby. For very young babies, you can place the baby on your chest and interact that way.”

Zachry also stresses the importance of carrying your baby in your arms, which helps the infant learn to use muscles.

“It’s OK to use carriers and bouncers and whatnot, but the time should be limited,” she says.

When she had her son in 1990, there were fewer parents hauling babies around in carriers. “If I was going to take my son to the grocery, I would pick him up, carry him to the car, then carry him to the cart once I was the store, giving him lots of opportunity to use his upper-body muscles.”

According to Zachry, many moms today opt to keep their babies in carriers from door to door.

“They (the babies) can only see what’s in front of them. They can’t use their trunk and head muscles, and they have no head control,” she says.

In the book, she asks, “Has your baby ever fallen asleep in the car seat while you were running errands and when you got home, you took the carrier into the house and left baby in it to nap because you didn’t want to wake him?”

If you answered “yes,” Zachry says to please never do it again, because it encourages babies to be light sleepers. Also, the incline and fixed position of the carrier doesn’t provide a flat sleeping surface, which is optimal for babies.

She also encourages parents to make sure their day care providers do not rely too heavily on baby equipment.

“Retro Baby” includes a detailed chart with guidelines for the amount of time babies should spend in each device, information on different ways to hold a baby, and suggested activities for each hold.

“All of the information in “Retro Baby” will help parents play a role in building a solid foundation for their child’s future skills in school and in life. It’s not meant for moms to beat themselves up,” says Zachry.

On the web

Dr. Anne Zachry’s website — drannezachry.com — features pediatric occupational therapy tips. She also has the website tummytimetips.com, which provides information the tummy time child development technique.

Kids' busy schedule of camps makes Mom jealous

Published July 28, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

I'm a little jealous of my kids' summer schedule.

In the past, they've done the summer program at their school. But now that they are 7 and 9, I wanted to give them the opportunity to try new things in new places with new people, and -- if I was lucky -- have them come away with a new appreciation of what they already have.

I anticipated a lot of morning struggles, so I started them off at a small art camp at the Garden Path Studio. When we arrived the first day and they discovered they knew some of the other campers from tae kwon do and Memphis Rock-n-Romp, I could see them instantly relax. They had a great time making pottery, rubber stamps, drawings and even (sanctioned) "graffiti" on the outside wall of the studio.

Despite their successful first week, there was lots of moaning and groaning about "All Sports Camp" at Grace-St. Luke's. When I explained that "all sports" included field trips to Putt-Putt, the bowling alley and the skating rink, they perked up. In no time, they were making new friends, fitting right in and learning some new games...(Read more).

Operation Thrill Points revs up long summer trip

Published July 14, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Before leaving for our 21/2 -week road trip to Massachusetts and back, I took my 7-year-old son to see "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" at his request.

I've officially gotten to the point where I absolutely cannot stay awake in the theater, but I did manage to catch the gist of the movie. Judy cleverly devised a system for her and her friends to collect "thrill points" over the summer in order to make it more exciting.

As we piled into the car for our trip, I talked to both of the boys about accumulating their own thrill points on our trip. I had my youngest at hello, but my 9-year-old was cautiously inquisitive.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "Well, remember last summer when you jumped off the cliff into Dinky Creek with Daddy? I'd say that was worth at least 20 thrill points," I replied...(Read more).

Vacation followed wherever road took us

Published June 30, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

About a week ago, we set out on our annual cross-country road trip. Rather than head West to visit family as we usually do, we went East to visit friends.

Our first destination was Northampton, Mass., where our friends Liz and Vanessa live with their 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. It's about a 1,300 -mile drive, so we figured our ascent would take about three days. We didn't have any real stops in mind; we just decided to see where the road led us.

We lead such busy, over-scheduled lives that just packing up and hitting the road feels like a real escape for us. Our boys -- ages 7 and 9 -- like the adventure a road trip brings as well. We hit the road for a month with our oldest when he was just 3 months old.

We left Memphis around 9:30 a.m. and spent the entirety of Day 1 crossing Tennessee. We stopped for lunch at a trendy burger joint in Nashville called Burger Up because of its proximity to Las Paletas, a mecca for homemade ice pop fans. Fortified, we kept going until we didn't want to go anymore...(Read more).

Weekend trip to New York just what Mom needed

Published June 16, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Last weekend, I went to New York with a friend. It was my second "Girls Weekend" this year, which is completely unprecedented.

My husband has been working out of town a lot this year, which isn't actually anything new, but now that my boys are 7 and 9, I'm finding it easier to say yes when friends present opportunities like this.

We stayed in Greenpoint, which is in Brooklyn near the East River within walking distance of the very popular Williamsburg neighborhood. I haven't been to New York City in about 12 years, and I had never been in Brooklyn, so I didn't quite know what to expect, but my friend (who is also a mom) and I had plans to do all of the things that we can't usually do with our children -- eat in trendy restaurants, drink fancy cocktails, carry on long, uninterrupted conversations, shop, stay up late, and sleep even later...(Read more).

Beloved cat passes on, critters can take a breath

Published June 2, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

"Where's Olive?" My husband asks me this question at least five times a day. Olive is our cat -- my cat actually. She adopted me in the fall of 1996 after I returned from the Peace Corps. I lived in an old house on Goodbar with a friend, and Olive came with the house. She was originally named Oliver -- after the orphan -- but by springtime she was pregnant, and we realized she needed a new name.

Olive always came and went as she pleased. She knew how to get into the house through the basement and the attic. We often woke up to birds flying through the house -- gifts she'd brought us in the night. And she once famously brought in a beheaded squirrel during the middle of a cocktail party we were hosting.

Olive could take care of herself. However, once Warren and I got married, and we moved to a different house, he felt that it was his duty to keep tabs on her. He outfitted her with a bell to reduce the number of critters she brought home, and he made sure she came inside each night. Despite her wild ways, Olive was a lover, not a fighter -- ask anyone who ever set foot in our house. Olive would make her way into a guest's lap in less than a minute...(Read more).

Don't forget etiquette on phone: Kids are listening

Published May 19, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

My 9-year-old has been playing a computer game that "requires" him to simultaneously talk on speaker phone with his friend who is at his house playing the same game and talking on his speaker phone.

It kind of reminds me of when my dad used to play online bridge in his boxer shorts at all hours of the night in the late '90s. He stopped every few minutes to call his online partner, wherever he was, and yell at him over the phone. (The reason he turned to online bridge was because he'd been suspended from the local bridge club for yelling at his in-person partner too many times.)

So far, my son appears to have a much calmer demeanor than his grandfather -- as long as his little brother is nowhere near. While playing the game, Satchel offers helpful advice to his friend, Theo. They team up and help each other out. It's cute -- in small doses...(Read more).

Preparation helps kids weather flood fright

Published May 5, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

I'm not one to panic, but over the weekend, as the waters of the Mississippi rose, so did my stress level. Had my husband -- a former forest ranger, Peace Corps volunteer, and all-around Renaissance man -- been in town, I probably wouldn't have quietly packed "go bags" while the kids watched TV.

I've looked at the maps and can rest assured that my house is not in any immediate danger, but I still worry about friends and family. The county sent out a warning asking every resident of Shelby County to pack a "go bag" just in case, so I did. I felt a little silly, much as I do when we take cover in the tornado closet, but it eased my nerves to feel as though I was preparing myself. I packed three days' worth of clothes and nonperishable food, toiletries, flashlights, water and pet supplies.

When my husband arrived home on Sunday night and saw the bags I packed, he panicked a little, too, but for a different reason. "I thought you were leaving me," he said. Once assured that I had no intention of that, he joked that I should have packed some alcohol instead of a half-empty jar of peanut butter...(Read more).

Connected bike lanes right kind of change

Published April 21, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Last Sunday afternoon, I decided to take my young sons to Shelby Farms Park for the Down to Earth celebration. We also wanted to revisit the Woodland Discovery Playground and finally do the paddle boats on Patriot Lake.

Unfortunately, we were met with crazy backed-up traffic on Walnut Grove, and we could see from the road how crowded it was in the park. I was simultaneously thrilled at the turnout, and disappointed that we wouldn't be joining in on the fun. I also found it somewhat ironic that our Earth Day celebration was derailed by a traffic jam.

Obviously, we were in a car, so we were part of the problem. My youngest son usually hitches a ride on the back of my husband's bike when we do long rides, so minus my husband (who was busy studying) I didn't think it would be feasible for us all to ride out there on our bikes -- at least not there and back. And as awesome as the Shelby Farms Greenline is, there are plenty of neighborhoods it doesn't connect to, so a lot of families had no choice but to drive to the park...(Read more).

Woodland playground gets family thumbs-up

Published April 7, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Thanks to the Greenline, Shelby Farms Park has gone from being a place we rarely visited to being a part of our everyday lives.

My 8-year-old can ride his bike with us all the way from our house in Midtown to the park and back. We've spoiled our 6-year-old with the hitch-hiker attachment that allows him to ride on the back of his dad's bike, but this year it's his goal to make it to the park and back on his own. Now that the new Woodland Discovery Playground is opening in the Plough Park area of Shelby Farms, he is even more motivated to get there.

We visited the playground on Tuesday afternoon during the members-only sneak preview. It is fabulous, and it exceeded every one of my high expectations. I am so happy that my boys are still young enough to enjoy it. (Honestly, after watching them play for a bit, I thought that a parents' night at the playground might be in order.)...(Read more).

Summer Camps: Meeting of the minds

Published March 25, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Spring break is over, and now it's time to start planning for summer break.

I have two weeks off over the summer and our accompanying road trip up the East Coast to Massachusetts will only cover a fraction of the eight-week break my boys will enjoy. So, I've been scouting camps. My sons will be 7 and 9 come summer, so we have our pick.

If you were to ask my oldest his idea of a perfect summer camp, he'd tell you that he doesn't need camp. He thinks he's old enough to stay home by himself. What would he do all day? Play something called Steam on the computer, jump off of the top bunk and onto the beanbag from time to time, and eat junk food...(Read more).

Don't mind yardwork: That's what sons are for

Published March 24, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

When we purchased our house four years ago, our Realtor warned us that the two giant sweetgum trees in the backyard would vex us year round. At the time, our boys were 2 and 4 -- old enough to mill about while I did yard work, I thought. I loved the house, so I said, "I'll handle the gumballs."

Famous last words, right? The two trees are massive, and no doubt hundreds of years old. We live in Lea's Woods, which is adjacent to Overton Park's Old Forest. These are some serious trees. And yes, they vex us year round.

In their defense, I will say that they are gorgeous and they provide great shade in the summer. I love our summer utility bills.

But I am not a fan of the year-round sprinkling of gumballs, the massive leaf dumping, and the yearly shower of broccolini-like pollen pods. When there are storms, large sticks and branches often fall. My husband and I both have nightmares about one -- or both -- of the trees falling on the house...(Read more).

Boys getting bigger, but they're still my babies

Published March 10, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

"Measure me!" my 8-year-old commands every evening when we pull in front of the house.

"You forgot to measure me!" he laments each morning when we pile into the car for school and work.

Six weeks shy of his 9th birthday, he has decided that he is too big for a booster seat. I've explained that the child restraint laws in Tennessee require that he be over 4-foot-9 to ride without his booster. When I finally remembered to measure him, he came in at 4-foot-6.

"Measure me!" he continues to beg each day, sure that he has grown in his sleep.

We are standing on the precipice of him not being "my baby," or being what they now call a pre-tween. Whatever it's technically called, it is way different from him being my baby...(Read more).

Weekend getaway not easy to get away with

Published February 24, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Last Monday morning, I casually mentioned that I was going to be out of town over the weekend. My 6-year-old, still wiping the sleep out of his eyes, said, "Can I come with you?" I told him that I was going on a girls-only trip to New Orleans.

My 8-year-old immediately wanted to know who the girls were, then clarified, "You'll be gone all weekend?" I explained that I was leaving Friday evening and coming home Monday, but that I was taking Friday off to spend time with them since they were out of school. Appeased for the moment, they got dressed and moved on to brushing teeth and eating breakfast.

My friends have been trying to get me to do a girls' weekend for months -- maybe even years. I usually have plenty of good excuses why I can't go, but after holding down the fort for six weeks while my husband worked out of town in January and February, I decided I was ready for a little break...(Read more).

Snow-day policy leaves mom questioning

Published February 9, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

As a child, I peered outside a Memphis City School window on many days, hoping for snow. On the days that it actually did snow, we anxiously waited to see if it would stick to the streets. If it stuck, then we'd be dismissed early. I remember being sorely disappointed on many occasions when it did not stick.

What I don't remember was being let out early, only to get home and find that there was very little or no snow. I also don't remember my parents ever being annoyed by leaving work early to retrieve me and my sisters for a false alarm. But I'm the first to admit that I have a bad memory...(Read more).

Leaving kids home alone a matter of responsibility

Leaving kids home alone a matter of responsibility
Published January 27, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Last summer, I took my 6- and 8-year-old sons to see "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" at the Orpheum. The part that stood out the most for my 8-year-old is when Elliott, who is probably about 8 himself, pretends to be sick. "His mom let him stay home by himself!" my son said in wild-eyed amazement. He was awed by the fact that he might someday get to stay home by himself. He might not even have to be sick!

At what age is it legal to leave your kids home alone in Tennessee? 12? 14? What would you guess? I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there isn't actually a law in most states. I found the following guideline for Tennessee: "There is no legal age for children to stay at home alone. Parents are advised to use their best judgment, keeping the child's maturity level and safety issues in mind." (Read more)

Little Disco: Dance event lets under-7 bump and hustle with parents

Little Disco: Dance event lets under-7 bump and hustle with parents
Published January 22, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

There's only one rule at The Little Disco -- no juice boxes on the dance floor.

The disco for children under 7 and their fun-loving parents was created by Minnesota native Katherine Mendez.

"In the short run, I hope everyone has a great time, and that the event gives children and parents an opportunity to shake their booties together away from the TV and the computer," says Katherine Mendez, seen here with son Benjamin, 4.

A part-time Spanish interpreter for the Memphis Speech and Hearing clinic at the University of Memphis, Mendez moved here in 2005. Her first week in town, she took a salsa dance class from Edgar Mendez, a world-class professional salsa dancer and owner of Salsa Memphis. Five months later, they were married...(Read more)

Hold snow: Son would trade it for taekwondo

Hold snow: Son would trade it for taekwondo
Published January 13, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

On Sunday night, when it actually started to snow, I informed my 6- and 8-year- old sons that there was a good chance they wouldn’t have to go to school on Monday. My younger immediately broke out into his “Oh yeah, uh-huh” dance, but the older one hesitated. “If school is closed, does that mean that the taekwondo studio will be closed, too?” he asked. When I told him that it probably would, he proclaimed, “I don’t want it to snow!”

That’s blasphemy for a school-age child in Memphis, isn’t it? I was able to perk him up with promises of trekking through the frosty Old Forest, sledding at the Levitt Shell, and building snow people in the front yard. Several times throughout the day, he asked if he could put on his taekwondo uniform and sparring gear and just hang out. He even tried to convince me that his helmet would help keep him warm at the park...(Read more).

Daily time for creativity a worthwhile resolution

Daily time for creativity a worthwhile resolution
Published December 30, 2010 in the Commercial Appeal

As the year comes to a close, it is time to look back and reflect. (This is assuming that the noise level in your house allows for reflection.)

It's also time to look forward, to make plans and resolutions. Every year, I ask my boys -- ages 6 and 8 -- what their resolutions are, and I get the same response: "What's a resolution?"

Then I try and explain the concept of a resolution in a way that would make them want to have one (or more). The idea is lost on them. They are too much in the now, in the me, me, me, to imagine making any big changes.

This year, I decided to try a new tactic. Instead of making resolutions, I thought we might all embark on a Project 365...(Read more).