Tell us about your family?

I’m married to my best friend, Randy, and we just celebrated our three year anniversary. Our son, Jack, is 18 months and on the move!

Why is FIT4MOM important to you?

I love the community that FIT4MOM has created in our area. Working moms, SAH moms, moms that have been been active for a while, and moms that are just now getting back in to the swing of things. If you’re a mom, you’re welcome! Heck, if you’re a dad, you’re also welcome. This is a one size fits all kind of class!

What do you remember about your first FIT4MOM class?

The lunges. My legs felt like jello the rest of the week. Made me really appreciate the handicap rails that are installed in public restrooms!

What was your childhood ambition?

To play volleyball for the University of Hawai’i, and then on to play for Team USA.

What is one of your 2023 goals for YOU this year?

My word for 2023 is “present”….to slow down and be present in all things: raising Jack, my time with Randy, even time for myself. As the mother of a very early riser (like 5am early), there are many mornings that I feel like I’m playing catch up. Rushing to get breakfast made, hurrying to get Jack ready for school, and maybe even a little agitated that I didn’t have the chance to wake up to an actual alarm clock. But I’m shifting my perspective. Instead of saying that I HAVE to wake up with Jack, I’ve flipped the script and saying that I GET to wake up with Jack. I love early mornings, and I guess my kid does too! I get to spend special time with him each morning before we start our day, and I’m going to look forward to that time as long as he’ll share it with me.

What are 3 of your favorite things?

(1) A good cup (or three) of black coffee

(2) A pick-up game of basketball

(3) A super hot, scald-your-skin kind of shower

What has being a mom taught you?

That I’m more like my own mom than I realized…which is about the best compliment I have ever received. When I was a kid, she used to say that she was “President of the Mean Momma’s Club.” Well, she’s still the best President the club has ever had, and I am honored to have been passed the torch.

Advice for first time moms?

Ignore *most* of the advice you receive as a first time mom, and do what feels right for you and your baby! There are lots of great things to learn from others, but the amount of helpful advice that new moms receive is overwhelming. Does that advice count as advice?!

My other advice would be to do whatever you have to do during those first few weeks to survive — it gets easier!

You have 4 hrs of FREE babysitting, what would you do with your time?

Peloton, shower, nap. Such a boring answer, but an uninterrupted workout is such a mood lifter for me. Add in a hot shower and an uninterrupted nap….heaven!

Favorite spot to eat in Texarkana?

Tough choice. I plead the fifth.

What is a fun fact that many may not know about you?

I got kicked out of Octoberfest in 2011…which is pretty hard to do. Sorry Mom and Dad.

If someone was thinking about attending a FIT4MOM class or joining, what would you tell them?

Come on!

Favorite thing to do as a family?

Anything that lets Jack burn energy and explore!