Meet
Vanessa, Rose, Tristan and Dylan
Vanessa Cornell is a mom of five teens (two, Lily and Henry, were in school during this shoot) living on the Upper East Side.A creator, community builder, and avid crocheter, she works to empower and connect women around the globe. She's also the co-owner of Cornell Vineyards.
Get to know Vanessa and check out her Substack, Voicenotes From a Friend, featuring weekly voice notes that feel like your best friend calling to chat. Did I mention Vanessa hosts virtual stitching circles and isn’t afraid to jump into a pickup game in silk cashmere?! She’s effortlessly cool in every way.
Vanessa Cornell @vanessacornell
Rose (17) @rose_cornell23
Tristan (18) @tristan.9477
Dylan (20)
Not Pictured: Henry (20) @henryhcornell and Lily (13)
Vanessa and Kids
Vanessa and Kids
Rachelle: What's your favorite part about being a mom?
Vanessa: I just love hanging out with them, you know? It's my favorite thing to do.
Rachelle: Vanessa, What is something that surprised you about being a mom?
Vanessa: It's kind of something I'm going through now. Tristan's going to college next year. Rose is going the following year. I got one away...how long it feels like it's gonna be when they're home, and then all of a sudden, how quickly they're about to be gone.
Rachelle (to kids): When did you realize that your mom was a real person and not just a mom? Or have you realized that yet, I guess?
Tristan: I think maybe when she started her own company. Usually she was just my mom, and now she's a entrepreneur.
Rachelle: What's something that your mom still thinks she's right about?
Rose: I feel like my mom is right about a lot of things.
Tristan: Mom's rarely wrong.
Rachelle: Good answer.
Rachelle: What's your favorite memory of your mom from when you were little?
Rose: My mom used to take me to all my rock climbing competitions, and we'd travel like three hours away, and she'd be there the whole day with me, and not a single complaint from her, only from me.
Dylan: We used to play basketball when I went to chess tournaments in between games, and even though I was probably seven years old, it was still a lot of fun.
Vanessa: Mm-hmm. I remember that. It was fun.
Rachelle: Vanessa, what's your favorite memory of when they were little? And your favorite thing to do now with your kids?
Vanessa: We had a trampoline when they were little, and we spent so many hours on that trampoline, and my favorite memory is actually when I was not in the trampoline. It was just all of them for hours playing whatever game they were playing, and I would just watch them from the inside. I loved that.
Rachelle: What's your idea of the perfect day in NYC?
Vanessa: I feel like I just had my perfect day. It was my husband's birthday, and my son came home from college, and we all kinda got dressed up and went shopping together and everyone I think was on their perfect behavior because it was my husband's birthday. No one was on their phone or annoyed, and it was just family time. It was great.
Rachelle: When did your mom embarrass you the most?
Rose: I think when she dances.
Tristan: YES!
Rose: It's probably the most embarrassing 'cause she thinks she's really good.
Vanessa: I'm a good dancer. I am a good dancer.
Rose: (silent look).
Vanessa: Yeah. I'm a good dancer.
Rose: Yeah, okay.
Vanessa: I find a lot of joy in dancing.
Rose: Yeah, you just really let loose.
