Meet our July Mama of the Month, Katie Panighetti!

Tell us about your family!

Hi, I’m Katie! I’ve been married to Tom since January 2020 (yes, likely one of the last big weddings before the world shut down). We have two daughters: Marigold, who is 2, and Daphne, who is 6 months old. We live in McCandless with our favorite kitty, Enrique. We enjoy working on the numerous house projects that come with living on 2.5 acres, and we also love traveling when possible.

Where is your hometown?

North Hills, Ross Township

What is/was your current/previous career?

I earned a B.S. in Biology from John Carroll University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. I’ve worked in university labs, corporate labs at PPG, and managed chemical supplier portfolios at ThermoFisher. Most recently, I worked as a Market Intelligence Analyst at UPMC Health Plan.

How did you find FIT4MOM?

I saw a Facebook post from an acquaintance about a FIT4MOM Open House. She never came, and I never left!

How long have you been a member of FIT4MOM North Hills, and what has it done for you?

This month (July) is 2 years! I started when Marigold was 8 weeks old. At first, as a new stay-at-home mom, I honestly enjoyed the one hour a week when I got to focus on myself and talk to other adults while the instructor read books and played songs for my daughter. I’ve stayed because those conversations are real connections. I look forward to seeing who is in class every week and either catching up with familiar faces or introducing myself to new ones.

What is your favorite class?

Stroller Barre

What classes do you currently attend, and why do you love them?

I try to attend Tuesday’s Stroller Barre at North Park, but I go to the other classes if my schedule needs to be adjusted. I enjoy Barre because it’s new to me. My body wasn’t trained to move in the way Barre commands, and that’s cool.

What is something that has surprised you about motherhood?

The fact that it’s constant. Even when you’re not with your kids, you are thinking about them, planning for them, talking about them, and everything reminds you of them.

What is your proudest mommy moment so far?

We just returned from a 3-week adventure to Belgium and France. We survived! We’ve traveled before with one kid, not two, and every time there is a crazy feeling about it, but man, it’s been worth it. Having kids has changed the way I plan for trips, not in a “we have only to do kid things now,” but rather, it’s been at a better pace and more purposeful. It’s amazing to plant yourself in a different culture and see your kids continue to be kids.

What advice would you go back and tell yourself as a new mom?

Remember that it’s ever-evolving. Keep reminding yourself that this is life today, and it won’t always be like this, for both the wonderful and the tough days.

Anything else you'd like to add?

I appreciate this group of women who are working to be both physically and mentally stronger for these children. I’m glad I found you guys!