Meet our May Staff of the Month, Maria! As our event coordinator, she's the one behind the scenes making the magic happen from Sip & Strolls to family events to Moms Night Out to working with our amazing sponsors for Mamapalooza. We asked her a few questions so you can get to know the woman who keeps our community events calendar full.

• Tell us a little about your family--who's in your crew and what stage of mom life are you in right now?
• My family consists of my husband, Steve, and our two sons, Luca (4) and Leo (2). It's full toddler and Pre-K mode over here, complete with high energy, constant questions, and repeated explanations. The biggest challenge in my life right now is having two kids simultaneously pulling me in opposite directions 🫠

• What do you love doing outside of teaching/working for FIT4MOM--work, hobbies, passions, anything that fills your cup?
• Beyond FIT4MOM, I love baking, trying new recipes, and spending time outdoors. I also enjoy a nice iced coffee flavor of the month, which comes in handy when picking spots for our group's biweekly sip & strolls. I even picked up part-time work for a friend who runs a mobile coffee cart, because apparently once coffee is in your life, it finds a way into your schedule too.

• Why did you join FIT4MOM?
• II joined Fit4Baby during pregnancy, then dove into Fit4Mom classes when Luca was 3 months old. As an extrovert who chose to stay home, I craved more than just baby time, and the social community was exactly what I needed. I've been hooked ever since, and naturally fell into the role of planning community events.

• What's one thing you wish every mom knew about taking time for herself?
• Large blocks of uninterrupted time are rare, but even 15-20 minutes dedicated solely to yourself helps. A solo walk, a short drive alone, or sitting outside for 15 minutes in the sun. Schedule it like an appointment and don't apologize for it. Don't underestimate spontaneous moments to take for yourself either. Sometimes the best reset is saying yes to something that fills you up.

• What's your go-to mom hack that actually saves your sanity?
• It sounds simple, but once I had two kids, the diaper bag kept getting heavier. Then I realized I don't need all the stuff all the time! I always kept a diaper caddy in the car with the essentials. Instead of carrying my big diaper bag everywhere (which contains first aid, snacks, toys, and an extra change of clothes). I now keep that bag ready in the car for long adventure days. For walks or FIT4MOM classes, I use a smaller, lighter bag containing just a couple of snacks, toys, a diaper, and a small pack of wipes. Game changer!

• Tell us something fun or surprising about your family or mom life?
• I love a good plan and that's why I enjoy planning our Moms Nights Outs and Family Events, but I also really enjoy spontaneity. Not having a plan is such a thrill for me, and thankfully my family seems unbothered by it too! This Mother's Day was a perfect example of why I love where we live. We decided during naptime that we would hop on a train to Chicago in the afternoon, and then headed to Waterfall Glen for some peaceful time in nature the next day. That balance of city energy and natural beauty, all within a short drive, is something I truly treasure.