I am a wife and a mom to three girls ages 8, 6 and 9 months. I also am a physicist and an engineer that is currently working in STEM education – creating content and geeking out with kids of all ages across the United States. I am a creative person that also loves logic puzzles and problem solving. 

I have lived in the upper Midwest my whole life, but have traveled all over for work. I have a few favorite cities to visit, but wouldn’t trade them over my life here for even a second. We hunker down at home during the long winter months, and spend summers at the cabin, soaking up every second of lake season.  

 I love spending time in the kitchen, whipping up meals while dancing to music with my daughters. We’re the kind of family that enjoys frequent game nights sprawled across the living room floor, though we’ve had to get creative as our youngest has become more mobile (and speedy!).

My parenting choices may sometimes differ from societal norms, but I am okay with that. I firmly believe that parenthood isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. I’ve set my sights on the long distance and remain committed to my parenting journey, even if it means taking the uncomfortably bumpy road less traveled.

Speaking of running, I’ve embraced the sport – in my own way. It started when I set a goal to complete a 5k the year I turned 30. Prior to that, my running experience was limited to those obligatory laps in gym class – a rite of passage, if you will. I not only crushed my goal of running a 5k in May of that year, but my husband and I made a goal to complete a 5k every month the rest of that year. Our excitement was contagious, and with each 5k we had more family and friends join us, finishing our last race in December’s negative temperatures.

Fast forward to today. My husband and I don’t run many 5k races anymore, but we have traveled for a marathon and also are part of a Ragnar running team (more on this later). While I may not adhere to a strict running regimen year-round, I do commit to training for our big running events. The process of setting a goal and working to that goal has proven invaluable, especially for me and my parenting. It’s during the tough parenting moments that my running mindset kicks in, pushing me forward with determination and grace to just make it to the end of the day, or through the sleep regression, or an illness. And regardless if it is a formal race or an average Tuesday, I always make sure to give myself grace and celebrate the little wins.