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Blog Entry 4 of 10 MommyMusings
I struggle to find that perfect balance that I was raised to believe was possible for women who "wanted it all: family, career and white picket fence." This will be a place for me to post my trials & tribulations of motherhood, being my own boss and trying to find the exact shade of white to match the picket fence that so desperately needs painting!

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~MacysMom

StrollerFit saved me ...
Contributed by: Abby Gardner   on 12/27/2007

I lost my job when I was 7 1/2 months pregnant with my daughter. I didn't want to see it coming and I was devastated when I was handed my pink slip. I spent the remaining 6 weeks of my pregnancy parked on the sofa in front of the T.V. looking, feeling and blubbering like a big 'ole beached whale. Looking back on it now that my hindsight is 20/20, it turns out my being let go was probably one of the biggest, best gifts I could have ever been given.

My pre-mommy life had me working in the health care field, specifically, sports medicine and orthopedics. I've worked with athletes ranging from Pop Warner football players all the way up to Olympic gold medalists. I didn't know how I would ever be able to resume using my education and skill sets again, especially since I'd pretty much convinced myself that I'd been black-balled out of the medical community in Colorado,

Fast forward 9 months...nothing had really changed much, except of course, that I now sat on the couch watching my baby with the TV on in the background, still looking and feeling like Shamu. I was isolated from my previous life. I didn't know any other moms, all of my friends with kids live in other cities and are scattered around the U.S. I was sad, lonely and depressed. I wondered if I had post-partum depression, read Brooke Shields' book in one sitting and made a note to myself to call my doctor after I checked the mail. I went to the mailbox, and that day in the stack of bills and catalog was a diamond in the rough; a post card from StrollerFit Exercise with Your Baby.

It was one of those pieces of mail most people wouldn't have even looked at and automatically deposited into the trash. To this day, I have no idea which marketing list my name was on, nor do I know which company sold that list to StrollerFit, but if I ever find out, I will give that salesperson a huge hug. This postcard was different from others I'd seen; it was colorful and it spoke to me. The message was simple... own your own business, bring your baby to work with you, meet other moms and get back into pre-pregnancy shape. It sounded too good to be true, but I was too curious not to follow up, so instead of calling my OB, I called the toll free number on the postcard for more information.

It's eighteen months later, and I own my own business teaching StrollerFit classes to new & expectant moms in the Lakewood/West Denver area. I bring my daughter to work with me every day. I have met some incredible moms and babies who started out as my clients but have since become my friends. I use my education and my skill sets every day and I recently bought jeans in a size that I would not have been able to get over my big toe before I got pregnant!

I credit StrollerFit for saving me with a post card. I don't know what I'd be doing if it weren't for them, but I am willing to bet it involves the TV, a sofa and a river of tears. So, for all you moms out there who are searching for that life line, I say here...I'm throwing mine out to you. Grab hold of it , hang on and let me pull you ashore.


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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
Submitted By: Abby Gardner
posted on 3/5/2008 @ 1:54:47 PM
(Not Rated)
Hi, Amanda I remember you very well! I'd love for you to come try a StrollerFit class sometime. We really have alot of fun! Feel free to contact me: www.strollerfit.com
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Submitted By: Amanda Jerome
posted on 1/14/2008 @ 8:02:51 PM
Rated Blog Entry
I thought I recognized your name. I was in a survuval for new mom's @ Lutheran and you had come to the class. That's so great that you have found such a perfect career for you and your daughter.
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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Abby Gardner

Lakewood , CO

Abby Gardner has posted 10 blog entries and 3 comments since joining on 7/13/2006. Abby Gardner 's average blog rating is 4.21.
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