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!
December's featured "Mom of the Month" is: Tommie Thomas!
Congrats Tommie!
Tommie has been a Stroller Strides member since July, and she and her daughter Ellison are a smiling presence at our Durham area workouts each week. Tommie has made great strides the past 6 months in fitness, motherhood, and life, and we are grateful that she has taken on a role as Playgroup Organizer for the Durham area, scheduling the fun meetups that moms and kids participate in each week. Join us in congratulating Tommie and read on to get to know her a little better!
Hometown: Rutherford County, North Carolina ("Small Town Friendly" is our motto)
Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Chapel Hill, but we're moving to North Raleigh in the Spring
Education: BA in Journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill, MA in English from NC State
Stroller Strides Member since: July
Members of your Family: My husband Neel, my daughter Ellison, and a 10-year-old cat named Macy
Tell us about your children: Ellison is 19 months old and is full of energy! She loves to laugh and I'm constantly running to keep up with her.
Current/previous Career: Before I became a mom, I taught 8th grade AG Language Arts for several years
What was your childhood ambition? At one point, it was to be an astronaut
What does motherhood mean to you? Being a mother is the greatest thing I've accomplished. It's the most wonderful privilege and the most daunting responsibility I can imagine.
What is the furthest you have been from home? I once took a group of 8th graders to Hawaii for 2 weeks!
What has Stroller Strides done for you? I am so glad that I joined Stroller Strides, because not only does it structure the days for my daughter and me, but it's helped me to meet new friends, get in shape, and feel better. Plus, I love being able to work out while spending time with Ellison.
What is your favorite exercise? Maniacs and squats, because my daughter loves imitating both of those moves at home.
What is your proudest moment? Seeing my husband hold our daughter right after she was born.
What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Champagne, good fiction novels, and traveling
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I swam with sharks! (They were very docile)
If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I asked, and he said I'm nurturing, organized, and fun (not funny--my sense of humor was best appreciated by my 8th grade students)
What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape? Just get started--there are so many positive benefits, and feeling strong and healthy absolutely makes me a better mom.
