This fall the leadership team of Stroller Strides (Lynsey, Lauren, Joanna and Tamar) is going to be picking the Mom of the Month. We picked Nicole for September! We greatly appreciate her positive and fun outlook on life and motherhood! She has been a dedicated Stroller Strides member and includes everyone. We are very thankful for our wonderful Stroller Strides members and wanted to highlight Nicole this month! Congrats!:)
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| Nicole, Sean & Liam |
Hometown: Orange, CA
Education: BA – UC Berkeley – English & Italian Studies. MA/PhD (in progress) – University of Wisconsin,Madison – Italian Literature. I’m what you’d call a “professional student.”
Stroller Strides Member since June 2011
Members of your Family: Me, Sean, (husband) and Liam (7 months)
Current/previous Career: Italian instructor at Santiago Canyon College, PhD student at UW Madison, and mom.
What was your childhood ambition? When I was 5 years old I decided I wanted to be President. I figured that if I learned all about them I would definitely win, so I had this “Big Book of the Presidents” that I made my parents read to me every night, and we had to take a family vacation to Washington D.C.
What does motherhood mean to you? Patience, exhaustion, unconditional love and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
What is the furthest you have been from home? When I lived in Italy I went to Slovenia and to Croatia for a week.
What has Stroller Strides done for you? Gotten me past the isolation of new motherhood that no one warns you about, given me a chance to get out and be fit with Liam, and given me the opportunity to meet lots of other great and inspiring moms!
What is your favorite exercise in Stroller Strides? I really enjoy the “ants go marching” – when you’re standing on the bands and you step your feet out to the side. I just call it “ants go marching” because we seem to always sing that song while we are doing it. And I like leapfrogs and the curtsy lunge.
What other ways do you enjoy being active outside class? I love pilates reformer classes, yoga and I also enjoy walking and swimming.
What is your proudest moment? When Liam was born, and when I passed my last round of exams in grad school.
What is something that you did that you hope your child does not do? I hope he’s not a jerk. Not that I’m a total jerk or anything, but I hope he isn’t one.
What are three of your favorite things? Lattes, musicals and St. Patrick’s Day.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I went to bartending school when I was 18 just because I thought it would be a good skill to have. I was right. Also, I lived in a frat house in college for a year. It was exactly what you’d expect: super fun and super gross.
If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? He would probably say my sense of humor, my cooking, and my ability to look on the bright side and stay calm in most situations.
