MOPS Mom Spotlight: Laura Mathieson

Meet Laura Mathieson. She is mom to two and half year old twins, Finn and Morgan, and stepmom to two teenage boys, Liam and Jack. She refers to herself as their bonus mom, which we kind of love. She and husband Justin (married six and half years) have lived with their family in San Clemente for eight years.

Life before kids. Laura was your everyday professional, except her associates were killer whales and dolphins and she wore a wetsuit instead of a business suit. The only thing missing is a submarine and Steve Zissou. Not really, but practically. She was a professional animal trainer at SeaWorld San Diego for 17 years! The only thing that could possibly pull her from the water was the arrival of her twins. According to Laura, it was the hardest, yet easiest decision she’s ever made. Laura misses her co-workers and the animals daily, but feels blessed to be able to stay home with her twins, “even when they are being category five twinadoes”. (She’s funny too.) Her husband still brags about her previous profession and shows off photos and videos from her animal training days - awwww!

Laura and her family love spending their free time out of doors. Long days on the beach and in the ocean top the list, as well as hiking and camping. Their appreciation for nature takes them all over, and next summer will find them at Yellowstone National Park and The Black Hills, South Dakota.

Laura fell into MOPS after having her twins. She kept running into people who sang the praises of their local MOPS groups, and she knew she had to get in on the action. Laura joined The Shoreline MOPS last year and found what she was looking for. As a new mom to twins and having just left behind a life she had cultivated for 17 years, Laura was feeling overwhelmed and lost in her new role. MOPS and the women she has met and bonded with through MOPS have proved to be a game changer in her life - how she parents and how she approaches her marriage and other relationships.

Another outlet for Laura is PIYO. She recently became an instructor and fills some of her free time teaching classes at 24 Hour Fitness. If you’re looking for a little “me time”, join her in one of her classes and get lost in the music while getting a great workout too!

You can find Laura at the Andromeda table, so stop by and say “hi” on your way to refill your coffee!