MiniBury

Brought to you by the Addison Independent

  • Home
  • About MiniBury
  • Archives
  • The Addison Independent
  • Sign up for the newsletter
  • Events Calendar
  • Summer Camp Guide 2022*
  • Stuff To Do

At Home: Abby Adams

05.21.2020 By: Megan James

A dispatch from Abby Adams, mom to a 7-year-old daughter; librarian at Platt Memorial Library in Shoreham.

MiniBury: In one word, describe how you’re feeling today.

Abby: Settled

MiniBury: When are you doing the bulk of your work?

Abby: 1/2 at home, 1/2 in a closed, darkened library building

MiniBury: What is your kid’s relationship with screens these days?

Abby: Increased, but awesomely, I’m seeing new skills, competence, and independence. It’s like she’s more able to use it as a tool, rather than passively experiencing it.

MiniBury: Tell us about a non-screen activity that your kid has enjoyed lately.

Abby: My kid has been exploring more outside, creating pretend friends and imaginary worlds in a way she’s never done before.

MiniBury: Has your family celebrated a special occasion during isolation?

Abby: We celebrated a 7th birthday. When I asked my daughter what would make the day feel special, she said, “Ice cream for breakfast!” So we had chocolate chip waffles with her favorite ice cream (mint chocolate chip) for breakfast. It was a lovely, low-key day. But I think she felt it was really special. We also have promised 2 birthday parties at some point in the future…

MiniBury: What has been the hardest part of this new way of life?

Abby: Finding a workable schedule for 2 adults and 1 child who all have different things to accomplish. Personally, I really struggled with getting into my new rhythm for the week. My mood is dependent on feeling like I know what’s coming next. Now that the rolling changes have settled, I feel like we have a good weekly routine. There are still challenges week to week and day to day, but I feel more settled.

MiniBury: Any small victories lately?

Abby: I have been recording how-to videos for the teachers I support and it’s felt really positive. Almost as good as helping them do something elbow to elbow.

MiniBury: What song do you have on repeat these days?

Abby: The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” album

MiniBury: What are you reading/watching?

Abby: Hubs and I are watching “Community.” Kiddo and I are reading My Side of the Mountain. I haven’t really had the bandwidth to do pleasure reading for a while, but I’m slowly picking my way through The Overstory.

MiniBury: What’s your favorite thing you’ve cooked, eaten or imbibed in the last month?

Abby: I made a really good orzo salad with “clean-out-the pantry goods.” And I made homemade french onion dip (a perennial favorite) to eat with my weekly bag of potato chips. We’ve been drinking Shacksbury Rosé cider, with a spash of lime, and a splash of gin at home on the weekends. It’s delicious.

MiniBury: How have you explained the current situation to your kid? 

Abby: We’ve been very upfront with our 7-year-old kid about the illness, how it spreads, why things are closed, and most difficult to understand: why we can’t play with friends. We had to explain that it’s not just because she could get sick from her friends, it’s that she could make her friends sick. That has made the “we’re not playing with friends right now” mantra stick a little harder. She’s taken to saying, when someone suggests something in a TV show or a book, “Well, you certainly couldn’t do that right now! What with all the stuff that’s going on!”

Related Posts

  • At Home: Alex McGuire

    A dispatch from Alex McGuire, mother of six. MiniBury: Describe how you're feeling today. Alex:…

  • A Day at Home: Erin Davis

    A dispatch from Erin Davis, mom to Asa, 4. MiniBury: In one word, describe how…

  • At Home: Willa Abel

    Two of Willa's kids tootling around outside. A dispatch from Willa Abel, mom of three.…

Megan James

Upcoming Events

May
19
Thu
10:30 am Bixby Storytime @ Bixby Memorial Library
Bixby Storytime @ Bixby Memorial Library
May 19 @ 10:30 am
Join the Children’s Librarian in the Bixby Library’s Community Room for stories, songs, and rhymes. This program is designed for preschool-aged children and their caregivers. Kids of all ages are welcome!
10:30 am Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
May 19 @ 10:30 am
Find Marita, her ukulele and friends downstairs at the library for stories, songs, and activities.
10:30 am Tot Time Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Tot Time Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
May 19 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Burn through some energy with tricycles, hula hoops and other ride-on toys in the town gym!
12:00 pm New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
May 19 @ 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 [...]
3:00 pm Midd Summer Market
Midd Summer Market
May 19 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Come downtown for live music, artisans, makers, growers, prepared foods and more.
6:30 pm Sunset Picnic, Live Music & Games @ Otter Creek Gorge
Sunset Picnic, Live Music & Games @ Otter Creek Gorge
May 19 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Join MALT at Otter Creek Gorge for a gorgeous evening (fingers crossed!), featuring musician Nate Gusakov. Nate started picking clawhammer-style banjo when he was 20 years old, and he still does so with glee whenever [...]
May
20
Fri
8:30 am Mary Hogan Playgroup @ Mary Hogan Pre-K Classroom
Mary Hogan Playgroup @ Mary Hogan Pre-K Classroom
May 20 @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Playgroup is open for all children ages birth-5 years of age and their families on Fridays (following the ACSD school calendar). A light snack will be provided. Please call or email Deb for more information.   
10:30 am Lincoln Storytime @ Lincoln Library
Lincoln Storytime @ Lincoln Library
May 20 @ 10:30 am
Little ones and their caregivers get together for stories and songs.
1:00 pm Homeschoolers Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Homeschoolers Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
May 20 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Come play at the town gym with other homeschool families.
3:30 pm Create Your Own Book Trailer @ Ilsley Library
Create Your Own Book Trailer @ Ilsley Library
May 20 @ 3:30 pm
What are book trailers? Book trailers are similar to movie trailers, but they promote books instead of films. Teens are invited to come film their own book trailer with Kurt Broderson from MCTV and Kathryn! [...]
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 © 2022 · Modern Blogger Pro Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design