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Motivational Mom of the Month - Emily Atkinson

Well hey there, November! Let's take a moment to introduce you to our Motivational Mom of the Month - Emily Atkinson!

How did you find FIT4MOM Richmond and how long have you been a part of our village?

When I decided to become a Full Time Mom I was looking for mommy and me activities to do with my daughter, and I stumbled on the FIT4MOM website! I started going to classes this past April, so it has been over 8 months of being a part of the FIT4MOM village!!!

What do you love most about being part of this community?

Where to even begin!!!! FIT4MOM fills so many cups for me as a full time mom through the fun workouts, the time outdoors, and the socialization and community!! I love the genuine friendships I have made as a part of FIT4MOM! It is a community of likeminded moms who are so supportive of each other! Not only are these women my friends in class, but they are genuinely my friends outside of class too!! I also love how FIT4MOM has helped me achieve my fitness and wellness goals! Not only have I enjoyed going to stroller classes with my daughter, but I also joined Run Club as a way to push myself to improve my cardiovascular fitness! FIT4MOM has allowed me to show up for myself and set an example for my daughter on prioritizing my physical and mental health!

Who are you a mom to?

I am mom to my daughter Macy who is 9.5 months old!

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What is your favorite thing about being a mom?

I truly love everything about being a mom and feel like it is my calling in life to raise tiny humans! Being a mom has healed parts of me that I didn’t even realize needed healing and has allowed me to slow down and appreciate all the little moments in life! I love watching my daughter learn and grow! Being her Mom really is the best!!

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?

I would absolutely need my Hunger Games Series Boxed Set and my needlepoint project bag (hopefully full of a lot of fully kitted needlepoint projects to work on!!)

How did becoming a mother change you?

Becoming a mother has made me more patient, more present, and more settled. I can honestly say that I am more happy now as a mom than I have ever been before in my life!

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If you had a time machine, would you travel to the future or back to the past?

I love history, so I would love to travel to the past to see big historical moments in person!

How do you practice self-care?

I do my best to prioritize time for myself throughout each day. While Macy naps I try take time for myself to read or needlepoint for at least a little bit. And I also make sure to have at least a few girls nights with my friends a few nights a month!

Where did you grow up and how did you end up in Richmond?

I grew up in the Richmond area (specifically Powhatan County). After graduating undergrad at Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!) my husband got a full-time job in Richmond while I stayed in Blacksburg to complete my Masters degree. So after completing graduate school, I moved to Richmond to be with him!

Are you a stay at home mom or do you work outside of the home?

I am a full time mom to my sweet daughter, Macy! Before making the decision to become a full time mom I was a Health Policy Analyst for the Joint Commission on Health Care for the Virginia General Assembly!

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What is the last great book or television series you've read/watched?

I am an avid reader and love all kinds of books! I am currently reading the Silo series which is extremely captivating, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves dystopian or sci-fi books!!

How did you meet your partner?

My husband and I met in High School! We are High School sweethearts and have been together for almost 13 years!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I loved learning and school growing up, so I wanted to be a teacher!

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If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what song would you choose and why?

I probably would choose “Then” by Brad Paisley! It is me and my husband's song and first dance song at our wedding. The song holds so much meaning for us! I love the message about growing through each stage of life with your partner!

If your five-year-old self suddenly found themselves inhabiting your current body, what would they do first?

I think my 5 year old self would take advantage of being able to drive and would go to the store to buy some Barbies and Barbie accessories! I was obsessed with them as a kid!

If we wanted to say hi, which classes can we find you attending?

I love attending all of the weekday stroller classes! You can catch me and Macy at Stroller Strides, Stroller Barre, and Strides 360 during the week!!!

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Emily - thank you so much for sharing a little bit more about YOU with us! I love what you said about how you're the happiest you've ever been, being a mom. How lovely is that?! Also, the fact that you met your husband in high school - that's rare these days!

To our readers - we hope you enjoyed getting to know Emily. If you have mom that you think should be nominated as our next Mom of the Month be sure to let us know!

- Natalie