TAM FEATURE: SHEREE GIBSON

Living a Full Life

My main goal as a mother is to ensure I send my kids off into the world, prepared and unafraid to live life to its fullest. I don’t want them to cheapen a challenging circumstance from fear of temporary discomfort. But, instead learn to value times of adversity in order to experience accomplished joy, love, success, and adventure.

I want them to enjoy the thrills in life without forgetting how hard work gets them there.

…For me, that is living a full life. 

All of Me

The part of my identity that I am most proud of, is—the family part. I invest my whole being into my family. My children and marriage get all of me. 

I also identify myself as an invested community member. Since moving our family to Edmonds, Washington, we’ve made the decision to raise our family here for the duration of our children’s growing-up-hood.

We immersed ourselves in the strong sense of community we discovered with the local cooperative preschool. We volunteered in all of the activities our children found interesting. It is important for us to play active roles in their activities. We want to share and take part in what they understand to be important parts and moments in their lives.  

My husband and I also expect our children to learn and grow through their social relationships. We nurture this growth by building strong friendships with the families our children are most connected with.

This became our village.

I’m also surrounded by powerful women in my life, who believe in themselves. We lift each other up and encourage each other when life gets hard. My village has taught me that when it’s time, they show the fuck up. That self-recognition, trust and support are empowering parts to my identity.  

The Power of a Mother’s Influence Builds Communities

I lead my life dedicated to investing in the lives of my children. I show them loyalty, integrity and hard work always pay off in relationships, in school work, in sports and music.

Whatever you do, follow through, try your best and do not give up

The most important lesson I am teaching my children is to be present. Not to live behind a screen and miss the lessons, values, and opportunities that can only come from engaging with other humans. Eye contact, for example, can be powerful. The physical, mental, and emotional connections with another person can only happen during real conversations.

Lessons of action and mindfulness to practice–being present as a habit–cannot be learned in a phone text or social media app. Real life human conversation is a gift! One of which I intend for my children to appreciate. 

The Methodology of Motherhood

I keep it simple.

Accept those around you. Love. And do the right thing…Stop, think and make a good choice every day.

Living as one myself, and raising future professionals, I dream every day that we can all grow together and bond as a team. Teamwork is an essential skill in developing one’s professional identity. Being able to work with others is a challenge and a blessing. 

If you can collaborate with a team, you are creating beautiful work. Isn’t that what this is all about?

Get up every day and create beauty in what you do.