September's Mom of the Month is: Stroller Strides instructor Danielle Quinn! Congrats Danielle and thanks for all that you do for Stroller Strides moms!
Danielle was a member of Stroller Strides in Wilmington NC before moving to Cary. The SS Wilmington Owner, Jody, recommended Danielle as someone who would be a great instructor, and Danielle met Jen soon after she moved here--and the rest is history! ;) Danielle's been teaching for us since we opened in Raleigh, and has done an amazing job not only of leading fabulous classes and getting our mamas into shape, but she also has an impressive ability to balance a multitude of activities along with motherhood. She recently has become a coach for our Running Mamas 5k training program this fall, starting up a large group of running moms in the Western Cary area, and she is an inspiration to them along with all of our Stroller Strides moms. Be sure to cheer for Danielle and the rest of the Running Mamas at the Monster Dash 5k in October! Join us in congratulating Danielle, thanking her for all that she does to make Stroller Strides fabulous for all of you, and read on to get to know her even better.
Hometown: Bennington, Vermont
Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Cary, NC
Education: Masters in Sociology, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Fine Arts (double major)
Stroller Strides Member since: April 2009
Members of your Family: 4 (husband Mike and daughters Camryn and Kenna)
Tell us about your children: Camryn is 4 and Kenna is 6 months
Current/previous Career: I am a Mom, Realtor, Stroller Strides Instructor and about to add a Running Mamas Coach
What was your childhood ambition? to be a ski bum forever, but surprisingly, my 6th grade yearbook says "I want to be a realtor when I grow up" (I'm not sure I really knew what a realtor was, but I knew I loved houses and wanted to do something related to them)
What does motherhood mean to you? It means I get to smile everyday and for everything I work hard for and everything I do, it all pays off with the smiles I get from my girls. They are my world and all they have to do is smile at me and I am happy and truly fulfilled. The other stuff I do in my life just helps me be a better mom.
What is the furthest you have been from home? Europe...London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Brussels, Edinburgh, Killarney, Tralee (whichever is the farthest)
What has Stroller Strides done for you? It has allowed me to fit in a workout and for my girls to have a playgroup at the same time. I am extremely busy and have to fit a lot in my day. I work as a real estate agent and I don't use daycare so in order for me to do my job, I need to stick with a schedule and combine as much as possible to fit it all in. If I didn't have stroller strides, my workout would not happen. And chances are, my girls would not get a playgroup as much as they do with stroller strides. It means I get a fit life, a healthy life, and I get to be a good example for my girls. Camryn has already picked up how important is it to have exercise in your life and she "plays" stroller strides at home all the time. It is also my outlet to other moms with young kids and my reality check to the real world of motherhood!
What is your favorite exercise? Tricep extensions, because I have seen the most change...and maybe a bit because I see others improve so much with these as well.
What is your proudest moment? Besides when my kids were born, was depressingly way back to ski racing when I crossed the finish line a minute and a half before anyone else. It was the one race I go back to in my mind where I found being calm and relaxed gave me the most speed! And I had the most fun I can ever remember with exercise.
What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Skiing (but it doesn't happen much anymore so I'm hoping running can replace it), art...the messy stuff like ceramics and painting, and home decorating...I love Home Goods!
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I'm from Vermont and I used to live in a world of ski racing. I cross country skied monday through saturday and downhill skied on sunday. I skied for a division I team in college and if I had continued it would be to train for the olympics. Because skiing is not a sport that gets funding in the US, I really could not afford to move on so instead I went to grad school and went to the olympics in Park city to watch 7 of my friends compete. It was a world I loved and miss, but I wouldn't change things because I love my life in Cary, NC just as much.
If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I'm organized and can juggle a lot
Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Cary, NC
Education: Masters in Sociology, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Fine Arts (double major)
Stroller Strides Member since: April 2009
Members of your Family: 4 (husband Mike and daughters Camryn and Kenna)
Tell us about your children: Camryn is 4 and Kenna is 6 months
Current/previous Career: I am a Mom, Realtor, Stroller Strides Instructor and about to add a Running Mamas Coach
What was your childhood ambition? to be a ski bum forever, but surprisingly, my 6th grade yearbook says "I want to be a realtor when I grow up" (I'm not sure I really knew what a realtor was, but I knew I loved houses and wanted to do something related to them)
What does motherhood mean to you? It means I get to smile everyday and for everything I work hard for and everything I do, it all pays off with the smiles I get from my girls. They are my world and all they have to do is smile at me and I am happy and truly fulfilled. The other stuff I do in my life just helps me be a better mom.
What is the furthest you have been from home? Europe...London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Brussels, Edinburgh, Killarney, Tralee (whichever is the farthest)
What has Stroller Strides done for you? It has allowed me to fit in a workout and for my girls to have a playgroup at the same time. I am extremely busy and have to fit a lot in my day. I work as a real estate agent and I don't use daycare so in order for me to do my job, I need to stick with a schedule and combine as much as possible to fit it all in. If I didn't have stroller strides, my workout would not happen. And chances are, my girls would not get a playgroup as much as they do with stroller strides. It means I get a fit life, a healthy life, and I get to be a good example for my girls. Camryn has already picked up how important is it to have exercise in your life and she "plays" stroller strides at home all the time. It is also my outlet to other moms with young kids and my reality check to the real world of motherhood!
What is your favorite exercise? Tricep extensions, because I have seen the most change...and maybe a bit because I see others improve so much with these as well.
What is your proudest moment? Besides when my kids were born, was depressingly way back to ski racing when I crossed the finish line a minute and a half before anyone else. It was the one race I go back to in my mind where I found being calm and relaxed gave me the most speed! And I had the most fun I can ever remember with exercise.
What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Skiing (but it doesn't happen much anymore so I'm hoping running can replace it), art...the messy stuff like ceramics and painting, and home decorating...I love Home Goods!
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I'm from Vermont and I used to live in a world of ski racing. I cross country skied monday through saturday and downhill skied on sunday. I skied for a division I team in college and if I had continued it would be to train for the olympics. Because skiing is not a sport that gets funding in the US, I really could not afford to move on so instead I went to grad school and went to the olympics in Park city to watch 7 of my friends compete. It was a world I loved and miss, but I wouldn't change things because I love my life in Cary, NC just as much.
If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I'm organized and can juggle a lot
What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape? Take it one step at a time, its not going to happen overnight so don't expect that of yourself. Have fun with it, enjoy it so you want to do it. Find what makes you like being a part of exercise and go with that.
What advice would you give to moms who are juggling careers and motherhood? Know that we all do what is best for our kids and our families. You are being the best mom you can be and there is no right or wrong way to be a mom. That constant struggle in your mind of whether you should or should not work, if you work too much or too little or if you are missing out on something you should not be...this is a struggle we all go through in one sense or another. There is no right or wrong answer about what is better for our kids so do what makes you be the best mom you can be.
As far as making it all work...combine as much as you can so that you have time in your crazy day to fit it all in. Stroller strides is my way to combine a workout and a playgroup. I also use activities my kids are in to meet other moms who may want to "swap" playdates so I can go to work appointments while my kids play. I am a stay at home mom who works full time and I don't use daycare...I make it all fall into place by combining everything and somehow I make it work. I use naptimes and "downtime" to get work done and I realize that sometimes something has got to give. My house is not always clean, the laundry is not always folded and put away and some days are crazy, but at the end of the day, I'm proud of myself that I'm doing it all...or as much as I can handle. And when I get to my limits, I take a step back and make sure I just have given myself the time to enjoy my girls. I always fit in time for my girls because that is what makes me happy:).
