For as long as I can remember, caring for others has been my calling. I began working with children at the age of 11, helping to raise my younger siblings. By the time I was 15, I was already caring for other families’ children, like Thiago and Brenner, two siblings who became like my own. You’ll see photos here of me with them as children, and again many years later.
“Me with Thiago and Brenner, 1990s, one of my first caregiving jobs at 15 years old.”
“Reunited decades later, still family, always connected by love.”
When I moved to the U.S., I worked as a nanny, caring deeply for each child as if they were my own. Even without children of my own, I’ve always believed that love is never too much, and that it can come from many places.
In 2015, I opened Casa Feliz, a dream realized through my passion for children, culture, food, and human connection. I wanted to create something different, a place rooted in trust, warmth, and respect.
I believe that when children are raised with love and respect from the beginning, we don’t just shape people, we shape a better world.
“For me, this work isn’t just a job. It’s my purpose.”
Casa Feliz brings together all my passions: children, culture, food, and, most importantly, love. When children are raised with respect and love from the very beginning, we can shape not only who they become, but also the kind of world we live in.
“Right care. Fewer wounds. More compassion. A new future.”
– Casa Feliz Philosophy
In 2016, I was featured in Bloomberg Magazine, sharing my experience as a nanny for twin boys, Avi and Alex. I cared for them for five years, and they grew up speaking Portuguese because of our bond. Their mother once told me, “You gave us more than care; you gave us culture, love, and language.”
The following year, I traveled to Los Angeles to complete the RIE® Foundations course, a turning point in my journey. It confirmed what I had always believed: babies deserve respect, freedom to move, and relationships built on trust.
“Bloomberg Magazine, 2016, sharing my story as a nanny for Avi and Alex, and speaking about the challenges of childcare in the U.S.”
“RIE® Foundations Course, Los Angeles, 2017, was one of the most meaningful steps in my journey as a respectful caregiver.”
At first, my focus was entirely on the children. But as Casa Feliz grew, I realized I couldn’t do it alone. I had never led a business before, and learning to support a team was one of the most significant transformations I underwent.
Today, I care not only for the children, but also for the people who help shape Casa Feliz. Each team member brings something unique, and together, we’ve become something powerful. I’ve learned to lead with the same respect and love I offer the children, and that has changed everything.
Most of us at Casa Feliz are far from our families. I have no family in the U.S., so every family that comes through our doors becomes part of mine. Together, we’ve built a community of immigrants, of dreamers, of caregivers, all connected by a shared purpose: to give children the most loving, respectful, and joyful start in life.