Where are you originally from? Los Angeles, CA but I've lived in the Seattle area since 2007.
When did you join FIT4MOM? Late 2013 when my daughter, Jessica, was an infant! I'd noticed Stroller Strides classes a couple years earlier when I worked in an office at Redmond Town Center, and I made sure to look it up when I had my first child and we needed to get out of the house.
What classes do you attend? Run Club, but in the past I've done other classes including Body Well, Stroller Strides, and Stroller Barre.
Who is/are your workout buddy(ies) and their age(s)? Jessie will be 10 years old this summer, and Teddy just turned 6 years old.
What is your favorite thing about FIT4MOM? I appreciate the range of classes for every stage of motherhood and the option to join classes and programs with or without kids!
What is your current job? Or what did you do before staying at home (if you don’t currently work outside the home)? I work part-time for Mentors in Tech, an organization that matches tech professionals with underserved college-level CS students who don't typically get recruited for tech roles. It's super rewarding to work with these students--the jobs they're preparing for are life-changing.
Share your thoughts on the concept of “it takes a village” – is it important for moms to join a village? Absolutely! I've learned so much from the Fit4Mom moms that I've met and shared stories with. I've spent time away from classes when my old job was too busy or life made it tough to get to classes, but every time I come back I meet another group of moms to learn from and be inspired by.
What is your favorite beverage? Daytime is a chai latte with oat milk. Night time (or fun afternoons with friends) is a glass of rose.
What is your favorite dessert? Chocolate in pretty much any form.
You are given 4 hours of FREE babysitting. What would you do? Pedicure and then hide in my house watching whatever I want on streaming video.
What is your ultimate child-free vacation destination? I just spent an amazing child-free weekend at my college reunion, so I would go back there--talking, going for walks, and eating favorite local foods with good friends who live far away!
How has becoming a mother changed you? In every way! When my kids were young, it felt like my whole life was taking care of them and working long hours in my professional job. Now that they're in school and I'm working part-time, I'm trying to find my personality again and it's interesting to learn how my priorities have changed.
I am happiest when...my kids surprise me with a new skill or interest, or see their hard work pay off. They're turning into such interesting people, and it's definitely not easy but I'm excited to see how their personalities form.