Chambana Dad to Know: Sky Sanborn

The Sanborn Family (photo provided)

Sky Sanborn came to Champaign-Urbana to attend the University of Illinois and never left, earning two degrees and snagging a wife along the way.

A native of Morris, Illinois, Sanborn is a project manager at a local construction company. A new entrepreneur, Sanborn founded Momentum, a gym, earlier this year.

In his not-so-spare time, Sanborn is an active member of First Christian Church of Champaign, playing lead guitar with a worship team. He met his wife Allyson — a local photographer — during their freshman year at the UI. They live in Savoy with their two daughters, 5-year-old Averhy and 2-year-old Eden.

See why we think Sky Sanborn is a Chambana dad to know.
Q: What do you like most about being the dad of daughters?
A: Really, I love how sweet they are. I’m enjoying this daddy-is-the-best phase where I get to squeeze them all I like, but I know I’ve only got a few years left of that! Plus, little girls play so neatly (relatively speaking). After having two very girly-girls, I’m not sure I’d know how to handle the whirlwind that can be a little boy.

Q: What did you learn from your dad, grandfather or other father figure that you have emulated in your relationship with your children?
A: I believe my dad did a great job of instilling an appropriate sense of self-confidence in me. By that I mean that when he said “you can become whatever you want to be” it wasn’t in the vein of “you’re the best and you’re a winner and you go out there and take what’s yours”, but more along the lines of “try new things, find something you’re good at, work hard and you’ll succeed.” Self-doubt is so prevalent, especially among teenage girls, and I just very much want Averhy and Eden to be confident and strong in their convictions Also, my dad has always been really goofy with us, and I hope I keep that up, too.

Q: When it comes to your family, how do you define success?
A: Because we’re in the early stages with our girls, it’s hard for me to say that I know what success is yet. I can say that when I look at the family I grew up in and at Allyson’s family, I definitely see them as images of a successful family. They both embody the unconditional love, God-centered focus, and balance of gravity and levity that I hope to foster in our family.

Q: You recently started a gym, and it’s almost New Year’s. What are your tips for people who are making resolutions to get fit in 2010?
A:  I’ll share a few of the key tenets of our group. First is to make sure you’re pursuing the right definition of fitness. Getting fit means getting better at the things you need to do every day or want to do someday. (6-pack abs and buns of steel should be considered a by-product, not a goal.) Second, mix it up. Workouts should be constantly varied and done at an intensity that pushes your current capacity. Third, work out in a fun, community atmosphere that will not only help keep you accountable, but also encourage you on to new levels. Fourth, eat better. I know, it’s everyone’s least favorite part, but it’s also the most effective and simplest to implement.  Finally, do it because you need to and because you can (and yes… you can).

Q: What is the best thing about raising a family in Champaign-Urbana?
A: Our family truly enjoys the perfect blend of rural and urban culture that Champaign-Urbana affords. In one weekend, we can visit a friend’s farm to see the cows, go to a packed Illini game (hopefully for a victory), pick apples, see a world-class performance at Krannert, and enjoy a night out in the big-city feel of our own lively downtown.

Want to spread the word about a Chambana mom (or dad) to know? Nominate them here or email us at editor (at) chambanamoms(dot)com.