Meet our July Mom of the Month, Joy Hou!
Joy is exactly what her name means- Joy! She is such a sweet woman inside and out and I get really excited seeing her name on my class roster. She always has a beaming smile on her face and she’s so friendly to each new mom she meets. She works hard in every Fit4Mom class she attends and she is an inspiration to all! Congratulations, Joy!
-Kristen R.
We love having Joy as a part of our FIT4MOM family! She shows up smiling and ready to work at every class she attends. She also takes the time to introduce herself and welcome new moms to class!
-Elizabeth
Tell us who makes up your family. Where are you from? What brought you to Pearland?
Our little family of three includes my husband, Michael, our 20-month-old daughter, Miri, and me. I’m originally from Taiwan and moved to Houston for my graduate studies in Chemistry. We eventually chose to live in Pearland to be close to my work.
What is your proudest mommy moment?
Watching her reach each milestone and master new skills has been the greatest joy of my life, but if I have to choose my single proudest mommy moment, it’s the day she learned to float on her back in the water. For the past few weeks, she has been pushing through hard infant self-rescue lessons. In the beginning, there were tears—and as a mother, it broke my heart. But that day, I watched her transform. She has gained much more confidence. To see my tiny baby doing something even I cannot do, floating peacefully and genuinely enjoying the water, leaves me completely breathless. Knowing she now holds the skill to protect her own life is an indescribable feeling. I realized that my devotion and presence have given her the ultimate gift—the security to feel safe, and the courage to fly.
What are a few of your favorite things?
A few of my favorite things are traveling, organizing, spending time with family and friends, and hitting the karaoke mic.
What surprised you most about motherhood? What advice would you give a new mom?
The biggest surprise for me was realizing that parenting never actually gets easier—it just changes. Every stage brings new challenges, but also new kinds of happiness. Motherhood comes with an immense weight of responsibility and non-stop worry. But through it all, I’ve discovered a resilience I didn't know I had. I've learned to be okay when things are completely out of control, to accept that it’s fine to be slow or inefficient, and to just live in the moment. My advice to a new mom would be to be patient with yourself as you figure out who you are in this beautiful, overwhelming new chapter.
What do you love about FIT4MOM? What would you say to a new mom who is thinking about coming to class?
I love that I can work out alongside my baby girl while enjoying all the fun activities FIT4MOM has to offer. The atmosphere is filled with pure encouragement, warmth, and zero judgment. Plus, the instructors give various intensity levels allowing you to challenge yourself and feel great at your own pace. More than just a workout, it’s where I’ve met a community of friendly moms navigating the same phase of life. If you're on the fence, just try a free class first. You might just fall in love with this amazing village and walk away feeling incredible about yourself!