Meet A Mom: Shannon | Libertyville Area Moms


Photo Credit: Elly Grace Photography

Where are you from and how long have you lived in town? What brought you to the area?

I grew up in Prospect Heights, a Chicago suburb. However, my husband and I did our medical training in San Diego and then moved to Japan given my husband’s job in the US Navy. We returned to Chicago in 2014 and settled in Libertyville.

 

Do you have child(ren)? Age(s)

I have four children; Connor (8), Nolan (5), Abigail (3) and Luke (3).

 

What are your favorite things to do in the area with and without your kids? Family friendly restaurant? Date night?

 

We enjoy spending time in Libertyville as a family including the farmer’s market, parks and pools.   Family bike rides to Dairy Dream in the evenings are also a favorite. I also enjoy working out locally including fitness classes at Orange Theory Vernon Hills, as well utilizing trails and roads in the area to train for triathlons. My husband and I enjoy date nights at Firkin and Milwalky Taco as well as a good cup of coffee at Conscious Cup.

 

Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor or in the corporate world? Please share!

I am a pediatrician at Erie Family Health Center in Waukegan, IL. I am fortunate to work with an amazing team of professionals, including other moms in the area, as well as incredible patients and their families! Our site also trains family practice medical residents from the Northwestern University system. Erie consists of 13 health centers throughout the area, most within the City of Chicago. Erie started in 1957 when a number of physicians and community activists recognized an unmet need for high quality healthcare in the West Town area of Chicago. It grew from a single community center clinic into a multisite community based full service health care system serving 70,000 patients per year. Its mission is to provide health care to all those who need it regardless of financial situation. If you are interested in learning more about supporting Erie Family Health Center and its patients, you can find out more at https://www.eriefamilyhealth.org/support.

 

 

 

How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?

Libertyville has been an incredible community. Neighbors and friends have been an amazing support for our family. Our church, CrossLife, was one of the first places we found this connection to community. When our daughter was critically ill, people in the community, some who we didn’t even know, stepped up to help and encourage us.

 

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I have been canyoneering in the Swiss Alps and river surfing in Queenstown, New Zealand.

 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another Mom?

Other mothers have provided me with a lot of great advice, one of the most important was that we can all parent in different ways and this diversity is a strength, not a weakness.

 

What are your favorite places to travel near and far and why?

I love to travel whether it’s close to home or across the globe. Our favorite location in the Midwest is Sleeping Bear National Seashore in Michigan. I’ve also enjoyed traveling in Europe, Asia and South America. When we lived in Japan, we took full advantage of our location traveling to New Zealand, Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

 

 

What is next for you?

What is next for me? As my husband transitions out of the Navy and into a job in the area, we are excited to continue to grow roots locally and get more involved in our community.

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