Tell us all about a typical day in your family’s life.
Melanie: Our daughters are involved in what feels like a thousand extracurricular activities, and we know Ryder will be as he gets older. Our girls dance at In His Steps Christian dance studio, show pigs and goats at the Gulf Coast Agriculture & Natural Resources Youth Organization Spring Livestock show, and are involved in our church youth group, Girl Scouts, chorus, orchestra, cross country, track, and numerous clubs at their schools. Ryder has played soccer and baseball with i9 Sports, and will surely add more activities to his schedule in the very near future. With one child in high school, one child in middle school, and one child in elementary school, there is never a dull moment in our house!
What is your greatest source of motivation as a mother?
Melanie: My greatest source of motivation as a mother is my kids, plain and simple. Their smiles, witnessing their successes, unprompted random “I love yous”, and watching them experience new things motivate me every day.
What has been your most difficult challenge as a mother so far and what did you learn from it?
Melanie: It has been challenging to try to make sure our kids are getting equal attention and equal opportunities. Our oldest has more opportunities for activities, but we try to make it so that our younger ones aren’t just following everywhere. Sometimes we make it more difficult for ourselves as parents in trying to make it fairer for our kids. For instance, while Rylie is running cross country this Fall with her high school, Ryann and Ryder are playing Fall sports with i9. Definitely makes for a crazy Saturday, but all three kids are getting a chance to do something they want to do instead of just being on the sidelines.
We also try to make sure we listen to their individual interests. Would it be easiest if they wanted to participate in the same activity/sport? Absolutely! Do they sometimes have to do something or follow along with something they would rather not? Also, absolutely! But we really do look for ways to make sure each of our kids feels individually valued, and that their individual interests are fostered.
What values do you prioritize in parenting?
Melanie: Our number one priority is ensuring that our kids know they are loved and we are proud of them. We prioritize spending family time together. Even though we are constantly on the go, we eat dinner together as a family most nights. We go around the table and list our “Highs and Lows”, and our kids love sharing about their day. We strive to create a relationship with our kids where they feel comfortable telling us anything and everything.
How did becoming a mom impact your personal and professional life?
Melanie: Becoming a mom gives you a new set of priorities, and I am so blessed to be able to stay at home with my kids right now. I enjoy being super involved with their schools by volunteering, being active with the PTA, being able to help in their classrooms, and going on all the field trips. My husband likes to joke that I went from being paid to work in a school all day to doing it for free!
How do you and your spouse stay connected while in the phase of raising young children?
Melanie: After the kids go to bed, we can take time for ourselves to sit and relax. We enjoy watching true crime documentaries together. Sometimes one of us will fall asleep within ten minutes of starting a show, and other times we will pause the show every couple of minutes because something pops up in our heads, and then we talk so much that we can’t even finish the show! We are currently doing a year-long Bible reading plan together, and we are part of a marriage small group within our church that has led us to read books that lead to fun and interesting discussions.
What is your greatest hope for your children’s future?
Melanie: My greatest hope is for them to be happy, feel satisfied, and always know they can achieve anything they set their minds to. I want them to become good, kind human beings who aren’t afraid to take risks. And I want them to always know how loved they are and that I will always be there for them.
Rapid Fire Questions:
- TV or Books? Books
- Favorite Holiday? Christmas
- Phone Calls or Texts? Texts
- Favorite Place? Middle of the Ocean on a Cruise Ship
- One word to describe yourself? Planner
Melanie Gibbs and her husband Kyle met when they were in 6th grade. They have been married for 17 years and have 3 children – Rylie (14), Ryann (11), and Ryder (5). Melanie is a former math teacher turned stay-at-home mom and Kyle works as a civilian at Eglin Air Force Base. The family enjoys attending church, camping in their pop-up camper, and running races together, especially at Disney World.
