Who are you a mom to?
JP (Joseph Paul) who is 21 months old! I am also expecting another little guy to arrive in July! :)
What is your favorite thing about being a mom?
Very hard to pick just one thing, but probably seeing him experience new things and find joy in them- literally nothing better on the planet than my baby's smile/laugh. No one can prepare you for the pure joy you feel at your child's laughter.
What two items would you take with you if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island where all your food and water needs were taken care of?
Very tough- I am not a big "things" person, I would want to take JP and Joe (my husband) because we love the beach and would probably have the best time playing in the waves and sand until we were rescued, haha! As long as food included cheese and pasta, because these two cannot live without those food items.
If you had a time machine, would you travel to the future or back to the past?
Definitely the past, we lost my Dad (Paul- who JP is named after) in 2017 right before my wedding. I would love to go back and spend more time with him, especially if I could bring JP and he could meet him. It is very tough knowing my kids will never meet the most amazing man I have ever known. Luckily, my husband is pretty awesome too ;)
How do you practice self-care?
Besides taking the time to go do the Mom only classes & activities with FIT4Mom, my favorite self-care activity is getting my nails done. Every other month I take the time to go relax & focus on ME!
Where did you grow up and how did you end up in Richmond?
I was an Army Brat and technically grew up all over the country, but my family settled in Northern Virginia (Fairfax Station) when my Dad retired from the Army when I was in middle school. I was fortunate to have made lifelong friendships in high school, including with my now husband, who went to VCU for college, fell in love with Richmond, and convinced me it was the place to be, after coming to visit several times. When my husband got a job offer based down here shortly after JP was born, we thought it was the perfect time to make the move while I was still on maternity leave. Best decision we ever made!
How did becoming a mother change you?
Changed me a lot physically, body will never be the same haha! But also mentally and emotionally of course. I like to think I have become a much more patient person, of course that is tested daily. I was always a very emotional person, but being a Mom I have had to learn how to manage those emotions and keep them in check more than ever in my life. Before, I would not say I was someone who was good at "not sweating the small stuff", but now I have to pick my battles on a daily basis or I would go crazy, so that was an adjustment, but has made me a better person for sure!
