Hello! Please introduce yourself...
Hi! I'm Kim!
Where were you born?
I was born in Manalapan, NJ and lived there through high school and until I left for college at Texas A&M. My parents still live up there in the same house I came home from the hospital to!
Where do you call home?
Despite growing up in NJ, I immediately felt "at home" (and lost my NJ accent) once I came to Texas. I lived in Chapel Hill, NC for a few years for grad school before I came back down to the Houston area to start work and reconnected with Jonathan (a best friend from college days at A&M and who is now my husband ). It's been home ever since.
Introduce your kiddo/s.
We have one girl- Emmeline who just turned 2. You might see her pretty reserved and timid at Fit4Mom but she is taking everything in. At home she's sweet, giggly, silly, and constantly loves to do all the exercises she's been observing! You can catch her running forwards, backwards, sidestepping, squatting, jumping, and lunging all over our house all day long. She loves her books, music, and her people HARD.
How long have you been Stroller Striding/FIT4MOMming and how did you find us?
It has somehow already been 1.5 years. Once I decided to stay home with Emmeline I was looking for an exercise group that was baby friendly. Fit4mom was everything I had been looking for (and more!) but I was worried it was a little further from my house than I was looking for with a little one. For that reason, it took me a while to come out to my first free class which just happened to be one of the anniversary classes. I immediately met 2-3 girls that lived right in my neighborhood and realized I had no excuse. I'm so grateful for those girls for introducing themselves and for encouraging me to join this community!
Share a hidden talent.
My hidden talent? I'm a world class sleeper. I can hit snooze on my alarm about 5 times without even realizing it and used to have to set multiple alarms. When I became a mom I was scared I wouldn't hear my baby cry and wake up- jokes on me. Luckily biology is a thing and most times these days she's my alarm!
Share a favorite mom moment.
Man, just one? There's nothing like when she says "I love you" (or as she says, "Ayyyoooo") unprompted. The first time she said it cue the ugly crying.
Share a most challenging mom moment.
I'm someone who is normally a planner- a type A, goal-oriented, planner. As a fresh new mom I had a hard time not focusing on the next milestone, comparing kiddos (though I knew I shouldn't), and telling myself "It'll be easier when..." thinking ahead to the next stage or wishing back for the past. I've really had to challenge myself to be intentional and in the present and just embrace the season. I had no idea it was possible to be "nostalgic for the present" until I had a kid. You know- those moments when you're in the middle of a random afternoon of playing or even those chaotic, messy days- and you suddenly feel this wave of nostalgia? Like, even though it’s happening right now, you’re already kind of wishing you could freeze this moment because you know these days will go by so fast. I now constantly find myself in that bittersweet feeling where I'm both loving and cherishing the present while already feeling sentimental about it. It's a work in progress and I am too.
What did you do before kid/s?
I'm a Neuro Physical Therapist and worked full time at TIRR for 10 years. The majority of the people I worked with have brain injuries, strokes, spinal cord injuries, amputations, complex multi-traumas, etc. I absolutely LOVED what I did and still work PRN for now.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Goodness. So tough when I don't even know what I'm making for dinner tonight! Hopefully juggling the chaos of mom life (maybe with a little more grace?), carting Emmeline (and a sibling or 2) off to their activities, participating in their school events, and showing up for myself (with a little more experience and less mom guilt?). Let's be honest- probably still knee deep in laundry and snack requests though but happy.
What keeps you coming back to FIT4MOM?
Fit4Mom honestly saved me in the early days. It started as a way for us to get out of the house, exercise, explore new parks, and get some vitamin D. I loved that it was a judge-free place I could learn to move my "new" body and not worry about if my little one was upset-all I had to do was look next to me for a mom who totally understood it. I loved the community, the playgroups, and the friendly faces. It quickly not only became our routine, but what we based our routine around.
Share 3 things you love to do other than FIT4MOMming
1) Traveling- we're about to start booking some trips for this year...I'm always up for recs you have!
2) Any adventure outdoors with my family
3) Yummy food (or happy hour!) with friends
