MOMS
doing it all
WRITTEN BY
JACKIE GOLDSCHNEIDER
R
aising kids
is hard
enough,
so adding
a career,
a home,
fitness and a social life
to the mix can seem
downright impossible. But
not for these ladies, who
have each found a way to
balance it all. And though
they’re the first to admit
they don’t always get it
right, they’ve got some
pretty happy kids to show
for it. You can call them
supermoms if you want,
but for these business-
savvy women, it’s all in a
day’s work.
20
APRIL/MAY 2017 | (201) FAMILY
SPIRITUAL MOM LOVES
HELPING OTHER WOMEN
GINA SANTANGELO knows life is a gift, so
she fills her days with the people and the
work she loves.
“I had twins in 2009, and my daughter,
Saria, passed away at 18 months old,” says
Santangelo, 52, of the loss she calls “the
hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure.”
Though she owned a Tenafly fitness studio
that catered to women, she found herself
unable to step back into that role. “When
something traumatic happens to you, you’re
never the same person again, so going back
to that world was too hard.” Instead, her
passion for helping women and desire to be
there for son Darius led to her current career
as a life coach and mentor, which she runs
from her Englewood Cliffs home.
Santangelo wanted to continue serving
her former clients, so she enrolled in classes
to become a life coach and reinvented her
career. “Now I help women eat clean, live a
clean life and choose exercise programs that
work in favor of their bodies,” she says. She
runs a free community group on Facebook
called GLOW that caters to more than 500
women and offers advice for healthy living, as
well as a membership service offering group
counseling, detoxes and recipe ideas. Clients
can also sign up for one-on-one mentoring.
“Saria brought so much joy into the world
and I feel that when I’m helping others,
I’m carrying that through,” she says.
Santangelo never takes time with her
son for granted. “I’m very spiritual, and I
truly believe Darius is meant to make a real
difference in this world,” she says. “I’m
so honored to put my time and effort into
nurturing his soul.” Together they spend time
doing everything from cooking organic meals
to playing in the park and going bowling as a
family with husband Eraj.
“I set my schedule so I can work less in
the summer, and Darius only spends a half
day in camp so we can spend our summers
together,” she says. And every Sunday,
without fail, is for brunch with her son
and husband. “Darius loves when it’s just
the three of us together,” Santangelo says.
“That’s when I see him glow the most.”
The author of two self-published books,
Eat Clean, Live Free and Pilates For
Beginners, also makes time for herself. “You
have to put the oxygen mask on yourself
before you can serve others, so I take time for
exercise, meditation, journaling and friends.”
She also sets aside time for her husband,
whom she credits with getting her through
their loss. “We have a very special rela-
tionship and really appreciate each other.
“Darius is our world, and I never
want him to feel like he’s second to
my career. Every Sunday I map out
what I need to do that week so
I can stay present when we’re
together,” says the busy
mom, who knows she’s
at her best when she’s
organized. “I make sure
to never bite off more
than I can chew.”
>
HOW FOUR LOCAL
SUPERMOMS BALANCE
WORK, KIDS AND LIFE
201magazine.com