Our
mom of the month program honors moms for their efforts to lead
healthy lifestyles, and gives us a chance to get to know them better
at the same time!
June's featured Mom of the Month is our newest instructor Karen Peloquin!
Congrats, Karen!
Karen recently celebrated her one-year anniversary as a Stroller Strides member, and what a way to celebrate-- she traveled to DC to train to become a Stroller Strides instructor last month! Karen is an inspiration to all of us with her dedication, strides in fitness, and on-going smile, and we are glad to have this marathon-completing fit mama join our team, and to have she and Annie as part of our 'village' ;). Karen also completed training for Stroller Barre, the newest Stroller Strides program incorporating ballet-inspired moves with the stroller, and she will help us launch Stroller Barre in the coming months. Join us in congratulating Karen, and read on to get to know her better!
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Education: Double Major in Elementary Education and Sociology
Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Apex
Stroller Strides Member since: May 2012
Members of your Family: My husband Tom and our 13 month old daughter, Annie.
Tell us about your children: Can't help but smile when writing about Annie! Annie was born on April 1, 2012. Annie can light up the room and makes a bad day turn great with her smile and laugh. She is always a lady on the go and likes to get into everything. She is a nice mix between being independent and dependent on her mommy and daddy. She loves when people wave and smile at her and she loves to wave and smile back. She loves the book, Pat the Bunny ,and could play Peek-a-Boo with the character Paul all day ;)
Current/previous Career: 1st grade teacher
What was your childhood ambition? To be a teacher like my mom and be a great mother like my great mother!
What does motherhood mean to you? Motherhood is loving someone more than you could ever imagine. I'm reminded of this quote I once saw that sums up what I want for my daughter and any other children I have, "I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright, I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."
What is the furthest you have been from home? Honolulu, Hawaii...Beautiful!
What has Stroller Strides done for you? Originally, I joined Stroller Strides to drop the many extra pounds I gained from pregnancy. Once I began working out, I was able to meet some really great friends and that has made motherhood so much more enjoyable! I've always been a proponent of, "It takes a village to raise a child", and I think this group shows that quote to be true. Only I used to think the village was just specifically for the child and now I have learned it's for the mother too ;)
What is your favorite exercise? Running
What is your proudest moment? Crossing the finish line for my full-marathon in 2010, so emotional and so rewarding!
What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Coffee - not necessarily for the caffeine, but for the taste and calmness that it brings first thing in the morning! Other two, flowers and massages!
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or
makes you unique. The picture that's attached to this questionnaire is
of my husband, Tom, and I celebrating our one year anniversary ;)
If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are,
what would they say? He said," devoted, passionate, determined and
caring."
What advice would you give to moms
looking to get back into shape? Everyone starts somewhere! Everyone
has had that pair of pants that didn't fit. Everyone has gasped for air
from walking up and down one flight of stairs at one point! Get out
there and know that you are not alone and enjoy it along the way!
