MiniBury

Brought to you by the Addison Independent

  • Home
  • About MiniBury
  • Archives
  • The Addison Independent
  • Sign up for our newsletter
  • Events Calendar
  • Summer Camp Guide 2021*
  • Stuff To Do During The Pandemic

Guest Post – Meet the Parents II

04.28.2014 By: Eliza, MiniBury Founder

While we adjust to life as a family of 5, a few local bloggers kindly agreed to keep MiniBury readers entertained with tales and adventures from their own lives. Today Faith Gong introduces us to a new series called “Meet the Parent.” Faith writes the bi-weekly “Faith in Vermont” column for The Addison Independent, and The Pickle Patch blog. She lives in Middlebury with her husband, their four daughters, and an over-anxious labradoodle.

Meet the Parent icon

MEET THE PARENT: Christine Gibson

Let’s begin with gratitude: A BIG “Thank You!” to the brave souls who volunteered to be profiled (and the not-quite-as-brave-but-equally-helpful souls who volunteered other people to be profiled) after reading the first installment of “Meet the Parent!” Keep the suggestions coming! If enough people step forward, maybe we can extend Eliza’s maternity leave until her baby goes to school.

If you’re dropping in for the first time, “Meet the Parent” is a way of introducing local parents to each other – the people you see all the time, but you don’t know their names or can’t ditch your kids for long enough to have an actual conversation. I figure that, by providing a basic introduction, these little profiles might help you skip the pleasantries and head straight to weightier topics, like when the actual last day of school is, anyway (I hear June 16).  And Julie Barry, subject of the first “Meet the Parent,” tells me that she’s now getting autograph requests around town, so apparently it’s working!

This week, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Christine Gibson. Christine is a very recent arrival to Addison County, and is “absolutely desperate to meet people.” I myself have yet to meet Christine in person (we may have seen each other sometime, but we both have four young children, which means we see lots of people, but as through a glass, darkly). I already can’t wait to meet her, because she’s hilarious; check out the stories on her blog,  https://christineegibson.wordpress.com/.

GibsonFamily-1

WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY?
Leo, my husband; Owen, age 9; Mary Catherine, age 6; Joseph, 3, and Patrick, 1. (Owen and Mary Catherine both attend Shoreham Elementary).
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Shoreham.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN VERMONT? 
A whopping 6 weeks!
HOW DID YOU END UP IN VERMONT? 
My husband is the new general counsel at Whistlepig Whiskey here in Shoreham.  We’ve come for visits before, but never imagined we’d end up here as it’s so far from the Detroit area where we both grew up.
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE YOU HAD KIDS?
I audited computer systems for regulatory compliance and security purposes in the auto industry.  It was just as glamorous as it sounds!
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH CHILDREN? 
We are still in the honeymoon period with Vermont and love the newness of simple things, like sitting outside and counting all the different birdsongs (and not hearing any sirens).  We also like walking and exploring the area around our house.  The Shoreham Library has had some really fun programs.  The kids have already discovered Middlebury Sweets – that’s their favorite!
WHERE WOULD WE BE MOST LIKELY TO FIND YOU AT 10 AM ON A SATURDAY?
Definitely at the Farmers’ Market.  The wonderful food here is – hands down – my favorite thing about Vermont.  I love that my kids can meet the people who grow/produce the food, too.  We’ve even had a visit to Gold Yolk farm in Whiting, from which we buy our eggs; the kids loved seeing the baby chicks.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT RAISING CHILDREN IN VERMONT?
Mud.  It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  Seriously.
WHAT BOOKS DOES YOUR FAMILY ENJOY READING TOGETHER THESE DAYS?
My kids will often sit still for audio books that they’d never have the patience to have me read to them.  We’ve done most of the classics that way.  Maybe that’s the upside of having a 10+ hour drive to see the grandparents.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER A PARENTING “MUST-HAVE?”
Coffee and patience (so maybe not too much coffee).
WHAT’S SOME OF THE BEST PARENTING ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Do away with the top sheets on kids’ beds.  It sounds silly, but that simple change has made bed making so much easier (as in: it sometimes actually happens).  I love stuff like that.
WHAT’S SOME OF THE WORST PARENTING ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
A family member once recommended euthanasia for a cold.  They might have meant Echinacea.  It wasn’t even that bad of a cold.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOURSELF AS A NEW, FIRST-TIME PARENT?
Only ever let WASHABLE crayons in to the house.  Stay strong!  Resist the regular kind at all cost!
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO AFTER THE KIDS ARE IN BED?
Sleep!
THE KIDS ARE WITH A SITTER! WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE “ADULT FUN” ACTIVITIES?
The minute I’m brave enough to stick a sitter with the task of putting all four to bed, I’ll let you know.
If you see Christine and her family around town, welcome them to Vermont! And if you or someone you know would like to be profiled in a future “Meet the Parent,” contact me at faithgong@gmail.com.

More from my site

  • guest post – meet the parent v.IIIguest post – meet the parent v.III
  • guest post – Little Explorers VIguest post – Little Explorers VI
  • breastfeeding in Addison County (a guest post)breastfeeding in Addison County (a guest post)
  • Our Weekend In (a guest post)Our Weekend In (a guest post)
  • wellness wednesdayswellness wednesdays
  • Fun Use of Extra Paint! (a guest post)Fun Use of Extra Paint! (a guest post)

SHARE

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related

Eliza, MiniBury Founder

Hello, I’m Eliza. I founded MiniBury in 2012 because I had a hunch that I wasn't the only parent in Addison County missing fun family friendly events. I love the challenge of finding and sharing information about our community to other parents.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Subscribe!

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

on Facebook

on Facebook

Upcoming Events

Mar
4
Thu
12:00 pm New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
Mar 4 @ 12:00 pm
Chat with other local moms who are in their first year postpartum. This weekly Zoom group is hosted by Alison Underwood, counselor and social worker at Porter Women’s Health. Call or email her for consent [...]
4:00 pm Youth Of Color Group @ virtual
Youth Of Color Group @ virtual
Mar 4 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Each Thursday, Addison Central Teens hosts a space where any youth of color in Addison County, ages 12-18 can find connection and community with one another while also learning about the systemic issues faced by [...]
Mar
11
Thu
12:00 pm New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
Mar 11 @ 12:00 pm
Chat with other local moms who are in their first year postpartum. This weekly Zoom group is hosted by Alison Underwood, counselor and social worker at Porter Women’s Health. Call or email her for consent [...]
4:00 pm Youth Of Color Group @ virtual
Youth Of Color Group @ virtual
Mar 11 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Each Thursday, Addison Central Teens hosts a space where any youth of color in Addison County, ages 12-18 can find connection and community with one another while also learning about the systemic issues faced by [...]
Mar
13
Sat
10:00 am Animals In Myth And Legend @ virtual
Animals In Myth And Legend @ virtual
Mar 13 @ 10:00 am – 10:45 am
Join a live virtual visit from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. How did Snake lose her legs? Why does Owl only fly at night? How did Turtle fly south for the winter? Meet these [...]
Mar
18
Thu
12:00 pm New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
Mar 18 @ 12:00 pm
Chat with other local moms who are in their first year postpartum. This weekly Zoom group is hosted by Alison Underwood, counselor and social worker at Porter Women’s Health. Call or email her for consent [...]
4:00 pm Youth Of Color Group @ virtual
Youth Of Color Group @ virtual
Mar 18 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Each Thursday, Addison Central Teens hosts a space where any youth of color in Addison County, ages 12-18 can find connection and community with one another while also learning about the systemic issues faced by [...]
Mar
24
Wed
9:30 am Virtual Mama Group @ Zoom
Virtual Mama Group @ Zoom
Mar 24 @ 9:30 am
Meet other mamas in this virtual gathering led by Middlebury mom Angela Scavo.SHAREClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter [...]
Mar
25
Thu
12:00 pm New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
Mar 25 @ 12:00 pm
Chat with other local moms who are in their first year postpartum. This weekly Zoom group is hosted by Alison Underwood, counselor and social worker at Porter Women’s Health. Call or email her for consent [...]
4:00 pm Youth Of Color Group @ virtual
Youth Of Color Group @ virtual
Mar 25 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Each Thursday, Addison Central Teens hosts a space where any youth of color in Addison County, ages 12-18 can find connection and community with one another while also learning about the systemic issues faced by [...]
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Helpful Websites

  • Addison Central School District
  • Addison County Readers
  • Addison County WIC page
  • Addison Independent
  • Addison Northwest School District
  • Bristol Recreation Department
  • Building Bright Futures
  • Experience Middlebury
  • Find and Go Seek
  • Ilsley Public Library
  • Junebug
  • Kids VT
  • Let's Grow Kids
  • Mary Johnson Children's Center
  • Memorial Sports Center (Ice Rink)
  • Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT)
  • Middlebury College Events
  • Middlebury Community Music Center
  • Middlebury Parks and Recreation
  • Middlebury Weather
  • Mount Abraham Unified School District
  • National Association of Education of Young Children
  • Rikert Nordic Center
  • Simon Says
  • Snow Bowl
  • VT Dept. of Health
  • WIC Health

Copyright © 2021 · Modern Blogger Pro Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.