Feb 01, 2022
Catching up with Vaun Thygerson feels like chatting with an old friend, someone you’ve known for years, even if she’s actually a new friend. Our readers know her best as a contributing writer to Kern County Family Magazine, with almost every edition featuring a “Dear Reader” open letter from Vaun. A Bakersfield resident since 2004, she is originally from Idaho but is proud to call our community home.
Vaun recently made time to sit down with our staff for a question and answer session in which we turned the tables and interviewed her.
A professional writer, Vaun earned her master’s degree in marketing and communications at Roosevelt University in Chicago. She is an adjunct faculty member at Bakersfield College, where she teaches communication-related courses, including interpersonal communication and public speaking. Her expertise is recapped in a textbook to which she contributed which is currently in use. Vaun’s effective communication skills are evident in even a casual conversation; the personal rounds out the professional, with her bubbly demeanor evident through phone and email.
Vaun and her husband, Scott, recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Scott is chief executive officer at Kern Medical, and together they’ve raised their busy family: Bryce, 23, who is navigating independent life, Cade, 18, and Zane, 15. As their children transition into adulthood, the Thygersons are navigating the phase of life parents of older children know well, with jobs and scholarships, sports practices, and learning to drive.
Vaun is supportive of Bryce’s independence as an individual living with spina bifida, watches as Cade plans a career in nursing after committing to play lacrosse for Dominican University of California, and smiles as Zane works as a DJ at events around town while also being involved in lacrosse and football. Every parenting phase has its challenges, but friends can be a source of support through each age and stage, she reminds readers. Groups like Moms of Preschoolers (commonly known as MOPS and found at many local churches) can be an excellent resource in more ways than one.
“I met women who were in the same boat as me,” she explained. “We had park days with church friends and other friends to sit and talk with. As a mom, you need to find those opportunities to find your community. We’re not alone. There is a shared experience in storytelling, in finding a network of other moms you can rely on. It really does take a village.”
Even though the activities have changed for both the children and the moms who gather, the friendships have remained the same and, in fact, grown through the years.
“I have become really good friends with my kids’ friends’ moms. We still do a lot of girls’ nights out to this day. These connections you’re making when the kids are young really can carry you through the gamut of your kids’ lives. It really can sustain you if you put effort and energy into it,” she said. “Even at different life phases, we often need the same thing, so instead of hanging out at the park, now we’re out at a restaurant, but we’re still talking about what crazy things the kids did.”
An avid skier, Vaun and her family enjoy getting away to the mountains to ski. “Getting away to Mammoth is a good break for us. It’s focused family time, something we all love and can do,” said Vaun. Bryce is an avid skier with Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, which focuses on adaptive sports and inclusive recreation.
Three questions with Vaun Thygerson
Q Our readers have to know: Do you have any hidden talents? What's something we would never guess upon meeting you?
A.When we lived in Chicago, I became insanely good at parallel parking. It’s kind of like this challenge now. I park in the absolute smallest space I can find and then I have to get out and take a picture. It is an incredibly useful hidden talent.
Q What should families in the Kern County area know more about in their community?
A.People are sometimes like ‘Oh, there’s nothing to do in Bakersfield.’ That’s not true. I really believe if you want to do something, you can find it. A fencing society in Bakersfield? Yes, we have one. You have to look for it, but hot yoga, ASL [American Sign Language], fencing, they’re all here. Like lacrosse for my sons. I had to Google it, but it’s around in Bakersfield. You can find your niche and anything you want to do. The magazine is a great place to find those classes and activities. Cloud 9 has a candle workshop. I wanted to learn to line dance, and I found a place to do that. Often, when I post about these events or activities I found, someone will say ‘I didn’t hear about that’ and my response is ‘I didn’t either. I looked it up and found out it was happening.’ I love to experience life and do something unique, do something different.
Q What is your parenting PSA?
A. Celebrate your children’s uniqueness and let them be them. They’ll be happier and more successful. What they wore to picture day, fights over clothes or hair and haircuts, now looking back, it doesn’t matter. It does not matter if my son wore a collared shirt to picture day. Let your kids be themselves and don’t try to make them something they’re not. Embrace their uniqueness. I spent so much time trying to mold them into what I thought they should be, but all three of them are so different. At the time, it matters so much, but years later, I can say it actually doesn’t.
Fun fill-ins with Vaun:
I'm always laughing at...My dog, Lincoln, a standard poodle named after Abraham Lincoln, in response to my child’s obsession with the historical figure.
The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is...Drink a Diet Coke.
Today, the strangest thing in my purse is...I grew up in the ‘80s, so I have a Gumby keychain that’s my pride and joy.
My favorite food is...Italian.
My favorite dessert is...Anything with ice cream, Dewars, Ben & Jerry’s.
In my pantry, you will always find...Peanut butter.
Before I go out, I always make sure I have...My phone and lip gloss. I love this one particular kind of Rimmell. I have tried everything from Fenty to Kylie Jenner and this $6 Rimmell from Rite-Aid is the best.
My favorite music group is...‘80s alternative. A Social Distortion concert was the first official date I went on with my husband in 1989.
The best book I've read lately is...Malcolm Gladwell’s “Talking to Strangers"
Favorite book...“Whack on the Side of the Head” by Roger von Oech
So far, my best life advice is...Don’t be afraid to try new things. You never know what will spark an interest
Vaun credits her involvement here at the magazine with helping her get to know readers and the community: “My life has been better in Bakersfield because of my affiliation with KCFM,” she said. From a ride along with fire fighters to knowing more about what is happening around Kern County, we are grateful for Vaun's contributions and look forward to years of friendship.
For more information about what’s happening in and around Bakersfield, turn to page 24 or sign up for our e-newsletters at bit.ly/KCFMsignup.
A professional writer, Vaun earned her master’s degree in marketing and communications at Roosevelt University in Chicago. She is an adjunct faculty member at Bakersfield College, where she teaches communication-related courses, including interpersonal communication and public speaking. Her expertise is recapped in a textbook to which she contributed which is currently in use. Vaun’s effective communication skills are evident in even a casual conversation; the personal rounds out the professional, with her bubbly demeanor evident through phone and email.
Vaun and her husband, Scott, recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Scott is chief executive officer at Kern Medical, and together they’ve raised their busy family: Bryce, 23, who is navigating independent life, Cade, 18, and Zane, 15. As their children transition into adulthood, the Thygersons are navigating the phase of life parents of older children know well, with jobs and scholarships, sports practices, and learning to drive.
Vaun is supportive of Bryce’s independence as an individual living with spina bifida, watches as Cade plans a career in nursing after committing to play lacrosse for Dominican University of California, and smiles as Zane works as a DJ at events around town while also being involved in lacrosse and football. Every parenting phase has its challenges, but friends can be a source of support through each age and stage, she reminds readers. Groups like Moms of Preschoolers (commonly known as MOPS and found at many local churches) can be an excellent resource in more ways than one.
“I met women who were in the same boat as me,” she explained. “We had park days with church friends and other friends to sit and talk with. As a mom, you need to find those opportunities to find your community. We’re not alone. There is a shared experience in storytelling, in finding a network of other moms you can rely on. It really does take a village.”
Even though the activities have changed for both the children and the moms who gather, the friendships have remained the same and, in fact, grown through the years.
“I have become really good friends with my kids’ friends’ moms. We still do a lot of girls’ nights out to this day. These connections you’re making when the kids are young really can carry you through the gamut of your kids’ lives. It really can sustain you if you put effort and energy into it,” she said. “Even at different life phases, we often need the same thing, so instead of hanging out at the park, now we’re out at a restaurant, but we’re still talking about what crazy things the kids did.”
An avid skier, Vaun and her family enjoy getting away to the mountains to ski. “Getting away to Mammoth is a good break for us. It’s focused family time, something we all love and can do,” said Vaun. Bryce is an avid skier with Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, which focuses on adaptive sports and inclusive recreation.
Vaun with KCFM Publisher LJ Radon
Q Our readers have to know: Do you have any hidden talents? What's something we would never guess upon meeting you?
A.When we lived in Chicago, I became insanely good at parallel parking. It’s kind of like this challenge now. I park in the absolute smallest space I can find and then I have to get out and take a picture. It is an incredibly useful hidden talent.
Q What should families in the Kern County area know more about in their community?
A.People are sometimes like ‘Oh, there’s nothing to do in Bakersfield.’ That’s not true. I really believe if you want to do something, you can find it. A fencing society in Bakersfield? Yes, we have one. You have to look for it, but hot yoga, ASL [American Sign Language], fencing, they’re all here. Like lacrosse for my sons. I had to Google it, but it’s around in Bakersfield. You can find your niche and anything you want to do. The magazine is a great place to find those classes and activities. Cloud 9 has a candle workshop. I wanted to learn to line dance, and I found a place to do that. Often, when I post about these events or activities I found, someone will say ‘I didn’t hear about that’ and my response is ‘I didn’t either. I looked it up and found out it was happening.’ I love to experience life and do something unique, do something different.
Q What is your parenting PSA?
A. Celebrate your children’s uniqueness and let them be them. They’ll be happier and more successful. What they wore to picture day, fights over clothes or hair and haircuts, now looking back, it doesn’t matter. It does not matter if my son wore a collared shirt to picture day. Let your kids be themselves and don’t try to make them something they’re not. Embrace their uniqueness. I spent so much time trying to mold them into what I thought they should be, but all three of them are so different. At the time, it matters so much, but years later, I can say it actually doesn’t.
Fun fill-ins with Vaun:
I'm always laughing at...My dog, Lincoln, a standard poodle named after Abraham Lincoln, in response to my child’s obsession with the historical figure.
The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is...Drink a Diet Coke.
Today, the strangest thing in my purse is...I grew up in the ‘80s, so I have a Gumby keychain that’s my pride and joy.
My favorite food is...Italian.
My favorite dessert is...Anything with ice cream, Dewars, Ben & Jerry’s.
In my pantry, you will always find...Peanut butter.
Before I go out, I always make sure I have...My phone and lip gloss. I love this one particular kind of Rimmell. I have tried everything from Fenty to Kylie Jenner and this $6 Rimmell from Rite-Aid is the best.
My favorite music group is...‘80s alternative. A Social Distortion concert was the first official date I went on with my husband in 1989.
The best book I've read lately is...Malcolm Gladwell’s “Talking to Strangers"
Favorite book...“Whack on the Side of the Head” by Roger von Oech
So far, my best life advice is...Don’t be afraid to try new things. You never know what will spark an interest
Vaun credits her involvement here at the magazine with helping her get to know readers and the community: “My life has been better in Bakersfield because of my affiliation with KCFM,” she said. From a ride along with fire fighters to knowing more about what is happening around Kern County, we are grateful for Vaun's contributions and look forward to years of friendship.
For more information about what’s happening in and around Bakersfield, turn to page 24 or sign up for our e-newsletters at bit.ly/KCFMsignup.
