Sweat Inspire Sisterhood
Sweat Inspire Sisterhood
Location: 7477 Thunder Valley Drive, Peosta, Iowa
Online: sweatinspiresisterhood.com
Erin Callahan always dreamt of having a big family.
So today, when the 38-year-old finds herself craftily navigating busy schedules between four kids — Jack, 13; George, 11; Harry, 9; and Kate, 6 — she’s not one to complain.
“I’m one of six in my family — four boys and two girls — and my husband, John, also is one of six — four boys and two girls,” Callahan said. “Even our extended families are huge. We both just loved growing up that way, where your family was like your best friend. Anytime you get together, it’s like a party.”
Born and raised in Dubuque, Callahan met John while they both were students at Wahlert Catholic High School — Callahan, a junior, and John, a sophomore.
“I’m a year older, and we were a year apart in high school,” Callahan said. “We met each other through our involvement in music and theater, and we started dating when I was 16 and John was 15. I remember telling my parents, ‘I’m going to marry John.’ They were like, ‘No, you’re not.’ We were babies. But even at that young age, I think we both knew.”
The couple continued dating through their collegiate years, with Callahan attending Clarke University in Dubuque to study drama and speech, graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2009.
The couple married when Callahan was 22, starting their family when she was 24. John simultaneously attended medical school at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago, Ill. He later completed his residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
“Jack was born while we were living in Chicago, and George and Harry were born while we were living in Iowa City,” Callahan said. “That was more of a challenge because we were further away from our families in Dubuque, so we had less access to our support system. It was fun getting the experience to live in Chicago and to be away from our hometown. But it also was always a goal to get back to Iowa and to Dubuque specifically.”
When Kate came along, the family’s dream came true with a return to Dubuque, where John is a pediatrician with Medical Associates.
Callahan recently took on a role as an instructor at Centrally Rooted in Dubuque, teaching the nonprofit’s Mindful Musicians curriculum in area schools and throughout the community.
“It’s enabled me to stay involved with music, as well as to connect with a lot of other moms,” Callahan said. “That’s created an additional support network for me.”
Callahan also recently stepped back on stage again, performing at the Grand Opera House in “School of Rock” and “Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical.”
The latter was a family affair, with Callahan’s sons also performing in the production.
“John and I both love music and theater,” Callahan said. “We always hoped it would be something the kids would express an interest in as well, but we said we’d support them no matter where their interests took them. It has been really fun to see them embrace it and to be able to enjoy that together, as a family.”
With larger families not necessarily as prevalent today, Callahan said she takes pride in her more traditional approach.
“Larger families really aren’t something you see as much of today,” she said. “It’s different for everyone in terms of what they want their family life to look like, but for us, it’s been a huge blessing.”
Callahan encourages moms similarly raising large families to have a strong support system in place, as well as to practice
self-care.
“With the kids getting older, we’re just starting to come into that time in our lives where schedules are a little bit more hectic,” she said, with a laugh. “Some days, I’m a chef. Other days, I’m a chauffeur. But I love it. I think for parents of larger families, I think it’s important to lean on support — family, friends, other moms — and to make sure you’re still taking time for yourself, for your hobbies and interests, to balance everything out.”
Megan Gloss writes for the Telegraph Herald.
