Hello, hello mamas! I am honored to be this month's Mama of the Month (it's only been 3+ years of dedication to FIT4MOM Norfolk to get it! I guess they finally realized they aren't getting rid of me and I'm not going anywhere!) You may know me if you've taken a Stroller Strides class, if you're one of my FIT4BABY mamas, or as the sarcastic, outspoken blondie attending one of my fellow intructor's classes. I am known for booty-burn workouts and finding great Amazon dupes - if you like Lululemon leggings but don't like the pricetag, I got you! I am mom to Oliver, who is 3-and-a-half, and Amelia, who just turned 1, and furmom to Chester, our 100-pound Golden Pyrenees. My husband, James, is a Hawkeye pilot in the Navy stationed here in Norfolk, and we have been fortunate enough to live in one place for the last 5 years, which is RARE in the military lifestyle.
Prior to moving around the country following my husband's career, I lived in Southern California my whole life. I went to the most beautiful college in the world, the University of San Diego (I would be lying if I said I didn't go there for the beach views out of every classroom window) and got a degree in psychology. I dreamed of being a criminal psychologist but I ended up doing college counseling at the high school I attended and then landing in the wedding and event industry - weird, I know! For now, though, I am a dedicated SAHM and love it, most days.
Many of you know my FIT4MOM story, but for those that don't, here it is. I owe finding F4M Norfolk to MY mom. She was visiting us when I was 3 months postpartum with Oliver and she noticed that I was anxious to leave the house, didn't have any other mom friends, and was basically a shut in. Before bed one night, we were talking about how lonely being a new mom is, especially with a husband who is gone more often than he is home. The next morning, my mom told me to put on some exercise clothes, handed me an address to a park close by, and said "I signed you up for a mommy & me fitness class - go make some friends." And boy, do I owe her the biggest thank you! I had finally found MY PEOPLE. I immediately felt welcomed by the group of moms and the instructor (Sandy - we miss you!). It wasn't about the workout for me so much, but about the mom-to-mom connection.
Fast forward to a few years later and I'm now a Stroller Strides and FIT4BABY instructor, and I absolutely love it. Even on cold, rainy, miserable days (which Norfolk has had plenty of this year!), I look forward to whichever class I am teaching or attending. I have met some of my very best friends through Stroller Strides and I love it even more that our children are friends, too. As a military spouse, it is hard to adapt to new places every few years but I am thankful that FIT4MOM Norfolk has made this city a place we can call home.
Like many of our mamas have said in past Mama of the Month write-ups, its the F4M Norfolk village that has kept me going and kept me sane in the often difficult times of motherhood. My love for F4M Norfolk runs deep - if you couldn't tell! Can't wait to see you in class, mamas!
