DO YOU SEE IN YOUR CHILD? HANNAH: I see a little bit of my personality in her like when she’s drawing a picture and she gets frustrated because it’s not perfect. I say, “Been there, take a deep breath, I get it. We’ll get back to this later.” I see those things in her, which I know she’s getting from me. Also, she’s a little competitive, so I’m trying to teach her not everything is a competition. I don’t want her to be too obsessed with that idea. I know it’s a good thing, and she is athletic, but I want to instill that it’s about the experience, and she doesn’t have to be the best at everything. We also try to be giving and kind, so it makes me happy to hear feedback from her teachers saying she’s a good, supportive friend to her peers. That kind of thing makes me proud I’ve instilled some of that in her. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PARENTS WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR FITNESS JOURNEY? HANNAH: One of my mentors once said to me, “What’s the best way to eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” I think that’s a really good way to think about fitness and training postpartum, after any injury, or after anything in your life that’s made you feel like there’s either a mental or physical barrier to getting back into exercising. Take small steps— don’t try to eat the whole elephant at once. Take little bites, and acclimate. One of the biggest things that can feel overwhelming is overcomplicating it. It doesn’t need to be that complicated, and you will feel better for taking one step at a time. Quick Q’s Guilty pleasure…………................... Sour candy Favorite date night………….... Hard workout then bagels and coffee Most memorable travel destination………. Slovenia for our honeymoon where we raced in a mixed double together Something that makes you laugh….......................... My sisters Something you’re looking forward to........... Immediate future: an ultra marathon in August; long term: rowing across the Arctic
about opening ErgoFit was that Hazel was there with us the whole time. She was there when we first started doing the demo and was part of the whole transition, helping build the business and helping put together equipment as we were about to open. Now, she’s a fixture of the ErgoFit community. She’s not always there when we’re working or coaching, but she still gets to see her mom and dad both working on something they’re passionate about, while also participating herself. Whether it’s actually helpful or not, letting her help and have some ownership has been really special. WHAT ARE SOME JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF BEING A MOM? HANNAH: Joys: I really enjoy watching Hazel grow up. I love seeing her become her own person with opinions, being just amazed at things I take for granted. I love being able to see the world through her eyes. It helps me take a step back and get a little bit of perspective. As for challenges, the transition to becoming a mom wasn’t easy for me, especially in the athletic side of my life. I had a lot of trouble feeling like I lost a little bit of my identity. It caused a big mental shift for me. Ultimately, I realized it wasn’t something that prevented me from that world. A big-picture goal I have with my rowing is to encourage women not to lose sight of their own athletic goals. They don’t have to choose between family and sports. There are a lot of barriers for women in adventure sports. With rowing, I’m trying to show women, moms, and kids that the only thing stopping you is your own limited belief in what is possible. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PARENTING STYLE? HANNAH: Flying by the seat of my pants. My parenting style is a learning experience. I feel like I am relatively relaxed, and I try to be patient and kind over goals and parenting. I’m more into giving Hazel her independence, helping her build her confidence, and giving her autonomy to make choices. Those are important things I think are helping build someone strong and confident. As a parent, to build that, I have to give her the reigns, even when it doesn’t always feel comfortable. I want to give her space to explore and space to make good and bad decisions. She learns with us. WHAT PERSONALITY TRAITS
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