Our April Mom of the Month: Jen DeMarco

My husband, Joe, and I have three incredible children who keep us on our toes. We have two boys twenty months apart, now ages five and three, and despite the intimidations of raising a family in an urban environment, we decided to go for the hat trick. We completed our family with the most precious baby girl in August. Joe and I committed early on to a life in Hoboken, and I am so happy we made this decision! We have made lifelong friends in this town and continue to embrace all that Hoboken has to offer young families like us.

Tell us about your career!

I am the co-founder and CEO of Local Barre and Wheelhaus Bikegarten, our new indoor cycling studio. Joe and I co-founded Local Barre in 2010. At the time, I was working at a hedge fund in the city and rushing out of work each night to take barre classes in the city. I was becoming frustrated that barre wasn’t offered here in Hoboken, so we took a leap of faith and opened Local Barre together.

We are so grateful that the community has embraced us since Day One! There are now three Local Barre locations in Hoboken and we opened Wheelhaus Bikegarten in August—yes, the same month we welcomed our third child! This month marks our fifth anniversary and we’re celebrating all month with complimentary classes, special offers and so much more. Be sure to visit LocalBarre.com for all the details!

Advice for new moms?

It will get easier! I remember those early days with our firstborn and they were tough. Hands down, embracing friendships with other new moms was most crucial for me. My other friends were attentive, supportive, and eager to help in every way, but there is something unique about the connection with another mom who is going through the same joys and struggles of motherhood at that very moment. Luckily, new moms now have resources like Hoboken Mommies so they can connect with other women who totally understand what they are going through.

Best advice you ever took from someone?

If it were easy, everyone would do it. I sometimes look back in disbelief of all the risks I took {continue to take!} to open Local Barre. I walked away from a very lucrative job, took a number of loans, and even cashed out my 401k in order to follow this dream. I’m proof that perseverance and the willingness to explore the world outside your comfort zones do pay off!

Advice for working moms?

Accept that you can’t do it all. You can have it all, but you cannot do it all yourself. The demands of motherhood and work never end and you just have to do your best each day. I’m sure that all of the Hoboken Mommies would agree that it’s impossible to fit everything you want to into your day. For this reason, it’s important to build a strong “team” around yourself. For me, it’s my family and friends {near and far!}, our nanny, and the Local Barre staff—which is redundant because so many are friends, maybe even family, at this point. Surrounding myself with an incredible support system allows me to fully focus on work because I know my children are well cared for—and vice versa!

Favorite Mom Time Out activity?
Local Barre! {duh!} I never miss my Duet Private Training sesh twice weekly with our Fitness Director, Amber, and my Mommie bestie in town. I also try to hit up two Local Barre classes and one Wheelhaus class weekly. Oh, and my nails are always {always!} manicured. ☺

What do you love most about Hoboken?
Community! I love that it has all of the fun elements of urban living like restaurants, shopping, and walkability but I feel a much stronger sense of community than I did living in the city. I love running into familiar faces, friends, and clients at the parks or market. I love the enthusiasm in this one square mile to celebrate the success of others and to help each other shine.

What’s next for Jen?

It’s a running joke that each time we open a new location, we tend to welcome a new baby as well. In 2015, we won’t be expanding Local Barre to new locations or my belly! I plan to focus on growing our business and enjoying the fleeting moments of our children’s childhood. I will also be taking more “me” time (all in the name of being a better Mommie, of course!}, so be sure to say hello when you see me in Local Barre and Wheelhaus classes!