Forget the 9-to-5. Motherhood doesn’t follow a schedule—it often feels more like 5-to-9 and everything in between. In this series, we explore the hectic, messy, sometimes beautiful, and often frustrating reality of being a mother—while trying to hold onto a life of your own. Think of it as a “day in the life” for the hours that usually go unnoticed.
Today, we’re following Megan Fairchild at a particularly meaningful moment: she’s in the final days of her nearly 25-year career with the New York City Ballet. Known for her clear, precise technique and steady presence in Balanchine’s works, Fairchild is getting ready for her last bow in Coppélia before retiring from the stage and moving with her husband and three daughters to Bordeaux, France.
But offstage, Fairchild’s days look less like a prima ballerina’s and more like any mom juggling school drop-offs, mismatched socks, lunchbox requests, and physical exhaustion. “My kids are the best part of my life,” she writes. “Nothing beats the time I spend with them.”
Through these photos and diary entries, Fairchild reflects on pointe shoes, Pilates, French lessons, cold plunges, and what it really means to be what she calls “a performing working mom”—all while savoring the final stretch of a career she says she’s ready, and even excited, to leave behind.
7:00 a.m.
Photographed by OK McCausland
I wake up at 6:30 a.m., usually without an alarm, so I can have a quiet cup of coffee before the kids’ chaos begins. I prop a heating pad upright in my bed and check my phone to see what’s going on while I wait for the coffee to kick in. From 7 to 7:45 a.m., we’re basically racing to get ready for school. I make breakfast for the girls and, while they’re eating, I pack their lunches. One of my twins has these crazy lunch requests that I go along with because it makes her so happy. The other two take bento boxes with sandwiches and little snacks, but she insists on a hot lunch in a thermos, just like her friend from school.
7:15 a.m.
For breakfast, we have brioche, eggs, and fruit. Harlow also asks for a bowl of Froot Loops every day. I tried getting healthier versions, but no one would touch them—so again, I give in. She always drinks the milk afterward, so I figure it balances out. We’re moving to France this summer, and I’ve tried to prepare her for the fact that there won’t be any Froot Loops there, ha!
Photographed by OK McCausland
I never thought I’d have three kids, but when you have twins, you just go with it. As soon as they all arrived, I was just so happy. My kids are the best part of my life, and that’s saying a lot, since I get to experience so many amazing things. Still, nothing beats my time with them, and I love the silly things they say in the morning. Sometimes they call me Megan for a laugh, and it never gets old.
7:30 a.m.
I’ve tried putting all my girls in ballet, but they haven’t really been interested. My oldest, Tullie, has loved acro and jazz this year, and this is the first year we’ve made it through the whole school year with an activity. She used to start something and then say after three months, “I’m done! I already know everything.” And I’m not one to force anything on them. Showing off her backbends is her favorite party trick. We’re looking forward to her first jazz recital next month!
Photographed by OK McCausland
7:45 a.m.
Every morning, all three girls wander off in different directions, and our job is to keep track of whether they’ve done everything they need to before we leave. Harlow still needs to brush her teeth, Gemma doesn’t like her socks, Tullie can’t find her agenda… I feel completely pulled in three directions, and my mind is somehow trying to solve all three problems at once.
Photographed by OK McCausland
I’m the classic frazzled mom at drop-off—usually in my pajamas with my hair unbrushed. I’m really determined to get to school on time, and we have a long commute. If we’re not out the door by 7:45, I have to face the embarrassment of ringing the bell and signing in late.They’re usually on time. We’ve probably only been late twice this year.
8:25 a.m.
We have a 25-minute drive to school because we wanted them to get a bilingual education—my husband is French. It’s a pretty long drive, especially since many mornings I do it after getting home late from a show the night before. It’s not just the lack of sleep, but the physical exhaustion I feel—though I don’t get to give in to it.
Still, making the effort to give them a bilingual education is one of the best choices we’ve made as parents. It’s given us the chance to move to France this summer, for at least five years! I’m very slow at learning French, so I really appreciate how important it is to learn a second language when you’re young. When we move, at least I’ll have three little translators.
Photographed by OK McCausland
I love drop-off because I feel like I’m with a group of other adults who just had the same tough morning as me. At the start of the year, we all literally breathe a sigh of relief after the kids go inside. So I feel really understood. I’m always in my glasses with unbrushed hair, but I don’t mind this walk of shame.
9:00 a.m.
Photographed by OK McCausland
After a total drive of about 60 minutes round-trip, I have a little time to tidy up the house and, hopefully, squeeze in an Epsom salt bath while I order groceries on my phone. When I have an evening show and know I won’t be able to help that night, I want my husband and the girls to come home to an orderly house. So, especially on days when I won’t get home before them, I rush to put everything back in its place.
The amount of cleaning and straightening as a parent is crazy. It’s nonstop. Honestly, I haven’t needed to do any cardio since having kids—I always tell people that I’m constantly walking and doing squats at home to pick up all the toys. That’s been my cross-training for the last seven years.
10:15 a.m.
Photographed by OK McCausland
I love company class; it’s the one time we all get to be together and socialize. After that, we split up into different rehearsals and different ballets. I don’t think I would have made it through this career without the laughter and the people I’ve gotten to share it with. It would be miserable without the bond we’ve all created in this intense environment.
Photographed by OK McCausland
KJ here is a young soloist, and we have a fun friendship. I try to get him to crack a smile—he can be really serious. I wear it as a badge of honor when I make him chuckle. We did Coppélia last year at The Kennedy Center, and it was a really big role for him. I really enjoyed kind of guiding him through it. Those kinds of moments definitely bond you.
11:20 a.m.
Last week, I hurt my left calf and had to scale back in my rehearsals. All I’m focused on is making it to my final show. So many people are coming into town, and I just want to make sure I get to enjoy it and not hobble through it. Luckily, my calf has calmed down, and I still feel ready for all the dancing I need to do.
Photographed by OK McCausland
11:40 a.m.
So, I’m retiring from the company this Sunday after almost 25 years—and honestly, the only sad moment I’ve had about it recently is that I won’t have this beautiful Pilates space to work out in every day. I love being on the reformer; I love Gyrotonic too. We have it all here. When I retire, I’m treating myself to an at-home Pilates reformer and will use it every day. It’s the most refreshing feeling to stretch your body and strengthen it against that resistance.
Photographed by OK McCausland
Photographed by OK McCausland
12:00 p.m.
I go through two brand-new pairs of pointe shoes for a full-length ballet like Coppélia. We customize our ribbons and elastics, so it takes about 15 minutes to properly prepare each shoe. I’ll be happy to stop doing this when I retire. Usually, I just watch TV on my phone while I sew.
Making sure your shoes feel good is half the battle.You want the toe box to be really flat so you can stand on pointe and find your balance easily, but you also need a shoe that lasts and supports you through the whole show. The company pays for our shoes, and we go through a lot of them, but it’s part of putting on a good performance. I save my very best pairs for special shows.
Photographed by OK McCausland
12:30 p.m.
I can’t wait to cut my hair off the day after I retire. I’ve been planning it for a year! Between changing diapers and years of dancing, there’s been no reason to wear my hair down for the last seven years—and I know if I chop it off, I’ll have to wear it down! I’m going for a Leslie Bibb bob; I’ve been planning this since that season of The White Lotus came out last year.
Photographed by OK McCausland
1:00 p.m.
Because of my calf strain last week, I hadn’t touched the first act for over a week. I was a little nervous to get through all three acts, but my calf responded well and everything worked out! This costume is my favorite of the three I wear. I love the low hair, the teal bodice, the pink skirt, and the peasant top. Putting on a costume like that helps you find the character.
2:00 p.m.
A lot of colleagues have been asking me how it feels to be almost done with something we’ve all been doing since we were four or five years old. I feel so at peace about moving into a new chapter where I’ll have more time with my children. Being a working mom is one thing, but being a performing working mom is a whole different struggle. You’re not available evenings and weekends like most moms, and that’s quality time when your kids aren’t in school.
Photographed by OK McCausland
I’m looking forward to making up for lost time. So no, I’m not sad, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m happy to wrap up a career I’ve been really proud of.
4:30 p.m.
Photographed by OK McCausland
This dress is my third-act wedding dress. I’m completely exhausted at this point, but I’m very “on my leg” because of how much I’ve been dancing. So I just kind of chill and float through the third act. It works well because the pas de deux is very quiet and slow. You could get nervous, but I have no energy left to be shaky.
5:00 p.m.
Photographed by OK McCausland
This was the last “complete” rehearsal of my career. It’s what we call the final dress rehearsal before a show, where the corps de ballet and principals all come together. You have to like the attention of everyone watching you, and over time I’ve really come to crave these moments. I guess I’m just so used to performing at this point that I treasure the time we do it for ourselves as a company. There’s nothing like dancing in front of your colleagues who know how hard it is to do what you’re doing.
5:30 p.m.
Now, after running the whole ballet, I’ve been dancing for about four hours. The actual run time of the ballet is two and a half hours, but rehearsals obviously take longer, and we need breaks between acts. At the end of this, I’m walking incredibly slowly, and my legs feel like I just ran a marathon—something I never plan to do, by the way.
Photographed by OK McCausland
This is me at the finish line of my marathon. I’m happy I performed well, I’m relieved my body got through it, and I’m focused on taking care of my body so it feels good tomorrow when I wake up.
These men just danced in the third act of War and Discord; it’s this campy section of the ballet where they’re dressed as Vikings and doing Aida jumps around the stage with huge hats and spears. It’s the last thing I see before I come out for the pas de deux. Here we are in the elevator. They’re heading up to their dressing room, and I’m headed up to the cold plunge.
6:00 p.m.
Photographed by OK McCausland
To have fresher legs tomorrow, I do a two-minute cold plunge after I dance. It’s achingly painful.It’s tough, but my legs feel really good afterward. I used to have to sing to get through it. Now I can just close my eyes and breathe. I really hope when I wake up tomorrow that my calf isn’t any worse. I’m proud of myself and looking forward to finishing these last shows!
7:00 p.m.
I’m sewing a new pair of shoes for every show… they start to pile up. The next day, after the show, once the sweat has dried and the shoes have hardened again, I’ll add some glue inside the box and along the shank, both inside and out, to make sure they keep supporting my foot. Eventually, I’ll go through my shoe piles and cut the ribbons and elastics off the ones that are no longer wearable. By the time I retire, I’ll probably have over 200 brand-new shoes left in the shoe room, and they’re all technically mine. I’m not sure what I want to do with them yet, so I’m going to let the dust settle before I decide. Right now, I don’t plan on putting pointe shoes on again after I retire. I love swimming and Pilates, and I’m looking forward to leaving the shoes behind.
Photographed by OK McCausland
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Megan Fairchilds final days as a ballet dancer reflecting her unique balance of career and motherhood
General Background
Q Who is Megan Fairchild
A She is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet known for her sparkling technique and long career Shes also a mother of three
Q Why is her retirement different from other dancers
A Because shes not just doing farewell performances Shes juggling school dropoffs parenting and rehearsals all at once showing a very real relatable side of a star athletes life
Q When is she officially retiring
A Her final performances with the New York City Ballet are scheduled for Check the NYCB schedule for exact dates
Her Final Days Schedule
Q What does a normal day look like for her right now
A She wakes up early to get her kids ready for school does dropoff goes to the theater for rehearsals performs that evening and then goes home to do bedtime routines Its a marathon of momlife and art
Q Is she still doing school dropoffs on performance days
A Yes thats one of the most talkedabout parts of her retirement Shes committed to being a mom right up until the curtain rises so she handles the school run even on days shes dancing a lead role
Q How does she manage the physical demands of ballet while being a mom
A She relies on a strong support system and has learned to be incredibly efficient She prioritizes sleep and nutrition but admits its a constant juggling act
Q Does she have time for a proper warmup
A Yes but its more focused She does a shorter smarter warmup backstage rather than a long leisurely one She has to be ready to go the moment she steps on stage
The Emotional Practical Side
Q Is she sad to be retiring