Meet Greta, our Mom of the Month for April 2025!

Tell us about your family!

I live in a little bungalow in River Forest with my husband, Joe, our three rescue cats (Frank, Trixie, and Tuna) and our almost 6 month old daughter, Eloise. Joe and I both grew up in Illinois, and met my senior year of college, right before I was supposed to move to Maryland for grad school. He ended up joining me out east for a few years while I got my degree and then we moved back here in the summer of 2020 to be closer to family. (Moving during the height of a pandemic is 0/10 - would not recommend!)

Current/previous career?

I’m a Montessori teacher! I teach ages 3-6 years at West Suburban Montessori in Oak Park. It’s like my home away from home. My students often remind me that I actually have 21 children, when I count all of them :)

What does motherhood mean to you?

Right now, it’s a lot of late night pumping sessions and dirty diapers. But in all seriousness, I have dreamed of becoming a mother ever since I was a little girl, and it’s been everything I could have imagined, and then some. I really hope I can raise Eloise to feel proud of herself and trust her gut, and not worry so much about what others think of her. I wish I had done that more as a little girl myself; I hope I can help Eloise get there faster than I did!

Favorite local spot?

With a new baby at home we don’t get out that often anymore, but we are excited to spend time as a family at the Brookfield Zoo this summer!

How did you find Fit4Mom?

Completely by accident! My maternity leave was almost over and I was looking to get out of the house and start making mom friends. I think I literally Googled “new mom things to do in Oak Park” and found a post talking about the FIT4MOM book club! I signed up, loved it, and decided I wanted to see what else FIT4MOM had to offer. The rest is history.

What's the best part of Fit4Mom?

How comfortable I have felt since day one! Exercising has never been my favorite thing to do, but now I actually look forward to Monday nights.

Favorite class/exercise?

Stroller Barre and Strides have been my go-to classes right now. I especially appreciate the dedication to a good themed class every now and again! Keeps it interesting :)

Proudest moment?

I know this is cliché, but I have never felt stronger than I did during the birth of my daughter. She’s my greatest gift! (Don’t tell the cats)

What is something that would surprise us?

Despite having three cats now, I did not grow up a cat person. My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I really wanted a dog, but we lived in a one bedroom apartment at the time, and couldn’t imagine the dog being home alone all day. So we went to the shelter and fell in love with Frank, the only cat who had a “human” name. And our fur family kept growing from there! I’m now well known in my family as the “cat lady” and I can’t imagine ever going back.

FIT4MOM Oak Park River Forest offers fitness classes for women in all stages of motherhood, including prenatal, stroller & moms only classes. Your first class is free! Click here to try a class.