She grew up primarily in San Diego and Virginia. Her father was in the military so she was able to travel a bit as a child. Her favorite place to live was Okinawa, Japan. She has been working with children since her childhood. Erin and her sister Amy were a two-woman team babysitting all the kids in the neighborhood. In the summers she worked as a lifeguard and taught swim lessons for many years. Erin still keeps in touch with several families whose kids she taught to swim over 20 years ago.