This Mother’s Day, we’re shining a light on the unstoppable force of fit moms — women who prove that strength, dedication, and self-care are powerful tools for leading by example. Our “Fit Moms” feature celebrates mothers who prioritize their health not just for themselves, but their families and communities. They rise early, push through challenges, and show up every day with grit and grace. By making wellness a part of their lifestyle, they inspire those around them to do the same. These women don’t just juggle it all — they thrive, reminding us that the strongest foundation we can give our families starts with taking care of ourselves.

Morgan Pattison, 38: The Creative Charger
By day, she’s shaping young minds and finding her power in early morning workouts. Artistic, energetic, and always in motion, Morgan brings color and drive to everything she does.

“WHEN I HAD CHILDREN, MY MINDSET BEGAN TO CHANGE, AND I BECAME DETERMINED TO BREAK THE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA THAT MOMS HAVE CARRIED REGARDING WEIGHT AND DIET.”

MEET THE FAMILY: My family consists of me, my husband, Brendan, and our two children, Ellie (nine) and Jude (eight). We are at the fun age where we see our children explore their possible gifts and talents: Ellie is a budding new runner for her school, and Jude is our basketball player. The best part of our entire family’s week is Friday when the kids hang out with their grandmother, and Brendan and I can sneak off to do a yoga class and grab dinner.

TEACHING TINY ARTISTS: I am the Lower School Artist in Residence at St. George’s Independent School, working with students between ages three and 11. I love my job; it is so fun and fulfilling getting to teach children art and share my experience as a practicing artist with my students.

INSPIRED BY SOBRIETY: While fitness has always been a part of my life, my relationship with it blossomed when I decided to quit drinking in 2021 to give my best self to my family. I had to develop healthy coping mechanisms, which meant building strong daily routines that I still maintain to this day. Fitness became a sacred time for self-care, a way to honor my body and process frustrations. Before quitting drinking, I exercised to achieve a certain appearance. Today, I move my body as a reminder of the strength I bring to the gym, my children, and my husband.

THE SUNRISE HUSTLER: On average, I exercise about five times a week. My alarm clock goes off at 4:30 a.m., and by 5 a.m., I’m lifting weights in our home gym. Occasionally, when I want to lift heavier weights, I go to the Germantown Athletic Club. My husband and I also try to squeeze in ‘yoga dates’ where we take a class at SANA Yoga on Friday evenings before grabbing a bite to eat.

GOALS THAT GROW WITH HER: Before kids, I believed fitness needed to be intense to be effective, viewing fitness as something I needed to do to look a certain way. When I had children, my mindset began to change, and I became determined to break the generational trauma that moms have carried regarding weight and diet. My husband and I both try very hard to show our children how to have a positive relationship with diet and exercise, with the hope that they can grow up and use these things as tools for healthy living rather than some form of intense punishment for their bodies to achieve a particular look.

FROM ONE MOM TO ANOTHER: Be kind to yourself!I used to work with a music teacher who always said, ‘You have to take care of your number one player, and that is you.’ If you don’t make it to that workout class, there’s always tomorrow. Don’t feel guilty on your birthday if you eat cake! It’s not worth it. If you can reframe your mind to understand that all bodies look different, every person thrives differently, and that healthy can look different, you are doing the work!

By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens