Frankfort Moms Have the Write Stuff

Two Frankfort moms will be returning to the stage on Sunday, May 3rd at the Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago. Listen to Your Mother is a national live reading series being produced in thirty-nine cities across the county; this year it is coming back to Chicago for its’ fourth year featuring local writers on the beauty, the beast and the barely-rested of motherhood, in celebration of Mother’s Day.

Stephanie Kush first performed in the inaugural Chicago show in 2012. She was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago and has lived in Frankfort for the past two years with her husband, Dave, and their three boys. Her oldest son attends Lincoln-Way East High School, while her middle son attends Noonan Academy in Mokena. She works from home as a public relations and marketing specialist for small local non-profits while getting to hang out with her youngest son, and is a writer and photographer.

Erin Skibinski performed in the 2013 show. She has lived in the south suburbs her whole life and moved to Frankfort four years ago with her husband, Brian, and their three children. Her two oldest sons attend Grand Prairie while her youngest daughter is at the Frankfort Square Park District Pre-school. She is a full time mom and writer.

Both women will be returning this year to share their pieces about motherhood. “I am pretty sure that had I not been a part of Listen to Your Mother, I wouldn’t have taken the leap into taking classes at The Second City Training Center or continued writing at all,” Skibinski shares. “There was something validating, and assuring about hearing laughter in my first performance that gave me confidence to pursue this path.” “I had a very similar experience,” Kush says. “Creatively, I was at such a low point. I hadn’t written in over 12 years because I thought that there was more important stuff to do, that by being a mom I couldn’t allow myself such luxuries as writing. Participating in Listen to Your Mother just opened the flood gates for me. It validated that I had something to share, that people would listen to it and that I wasn’t alone.”

Skibinski created an online presence with her blog Home Everyday and then created South of I-80 at ChicagoNow. She is now a regular contributor to Chicago Parent Magazine and was recently named a “2014 DIY Blogger to Watch” by Center City. In addition to being feature on other DIY blogs, the ChicagoNow home page and The Chicago Tribune, she was also featured on the humor site In the Powder Room. Before graduating the Second City Training Center’s comedy writing program, she wrote a sketch that was part of the Mary Siewert Scruggs Works by Women Comedy Festival at Second City in Chicago.

“The piece I read in 2013, The Perfect Mom, is about being the unsure, scared, clueless, and maybe laid back mom in what seems to be rooms full of perfect put together moms who seem to have their act together all the time,” Skibinski shares. “That frustration that exists, and how in the end, it really doesn’t matter. Kids don’t really care about the skinny jeans or breastfeeding or organics. They love their moms just the way they are.”

Kush shares her writing and photography on her blog Educational Anarchy. “I got nothing on Erin,” she laughs. A graduate from the writing program at Columbia College she is slowly carving out a place of her own. She is a 2015 City Mom with the Illinois Farm Families Program and is a publish photographer with Grit Magazine.

“The piece that I shared in 2012, Stifle, is a letter to my oldest son. It’s a reassurance that, under the circumstance, I tried my best to make the right decisions that would benefit him in the long run. More than anything, I really wanted to share my story. I’m a big believer in sharing honestly and from the heart in an effort to help others not feel like they are lone ships at sea,” Kush says.

Both women are active in the Frankfort community. Skibinski was recently elected as a Frankfort Public Library District Trustee. She is also a member of the Friends of the Frankfort Library and can be found cheering on her kids at their soccer games or while they take ice skating lessons. “My daughter is in ballet and the boys take various park district classes as well. We can be found at Frankfort’s Home Depot kids building classes as well.” She also enjoys lending a hand at her kids’ school when needed.
Kush is active in the German American Heritage Center of Frankfort and can be found on the baseball fields supporting her middle son while he plays. “We are a dedicated scouting family as well.” Both Skibinski and Kush are also members of the Frankfort Writers’ Group which meets through the public library. Kush goes on to share that she would love to have a storytelling festival in Frankfort someday. “I am, with the help of Erin, taking the steps to make that happen.”

“We met through our involvement in Listen to Your Mother,” Kush says. “I remember sitting in the audience at the 2013 show and Erin being introduced, they mentioned that she was from Frankfort and I was both equally excited and nervous about another blogger residing in Frankfort,” she jokes. “It’s just a testament to how this show has brought all of its contributors together to form a very supportive family. Erin and I live blocks away from each other, yet, if it wasn’t for the show, we wouldn’t know each other.”

Both women also enjoy calling Frankfort home. “Frankfort is an ideal community to raise a family,” says Skibinski. “We love the schools, the library, the park district, but most of all we love that we live in the downtown area where we can walk to so many community sponsored activities.”
“Yes,” seconds Kush. “The downtown area is amazing. There is always something going on that is family friendly and fun. It really solidifies the importance of community here. If it wasn’t for the downtown area and being able to live within walking distance of it, I don’t think we would have moved here.”

When asked what their Frankfort Mom Pick for a fun activity to do in town would be, Skibiniski says “Pack a picnic and walk up to story time on the Green, movie on the Green or a concert on the Green, then get a gelato from Mama Rosetta’s.” Kush agrees, but offers up “Walking to White Street for dinner and then hitting KidsWork on a Friday night or the Frankfort Bowl on a Saturday night.” Both women are excited for the return of the Country Market. “Every Sunday we are down there,” says Kush.

“I don’t care if you are a parent, a grandparent, a son, a daughter, a wife, a husband, a sister, a brother, you will feel connection at Listen to Your Mother. Every emotion is portrayed from such diversity and walks of life. I believe you will laugh, you will cry, you will feel fear and find acceptance and feel the love in the theater. This show is not about “mom” but about the true essence of humanity,” Skibinski says. Tickets are still available for the May 3rd Chicago Listen to Your Mother performance where both Kush and Skibinski will be sharing the stage with twelve other cast members at the Athenaeum Theatre. You can find out more about Listen to Your Mother by visiting their website http://listentoyourmothershow.com
(Photo credit - Balee Images)