Coming home to my family after time away always feels so good. I am more welcome and comfortable in the walls of my own home than anywhere, and feel overwhelmed with love for the people who share this family life with me. Each one of my children and my husband all make up the ever-changing, ever-moving pieces of what I see as my most important work of caring for the whole family from the inside out. Gosh, it’s a big job.

As soon as I feel like I’ve got one aspect of the daily physical care covered, like teeth brushing or the bedtime routine, something else changes requiring an adjustment. On top of those basic physical necessities, as we’re slowly exiting the baby stage and the kids are getting older, I am discovering the enormity of attention and guidance needed to teach strong character, integrity, patience, and all of the virtues that I hope to instill– even as I continue to develop them in myself.
Sometimes it feels easier to lump everyone together and take care of tasks. Everyone eats, everyone plays outside, everyone takes a bath. As each of my children grows, I recognize the importance of continuing to get to know them as individuals, and care for their specific needs as well. Because of Plum’s personal physical needs like feeding and changing, I naturally spend individual time caring for her. Dave and I have a regular weekly date-night when we get to reconnect. But I noticed a few months ago that sometimes days would go by that I didn’t sit down one-on-one with each of the boys to ask how the day went, or what makes them happy right now.

I started to add a short “mom moment” to our bedtime routine with the boys.  I lay down with Milo and Eliot individually, snuggle them a bit, ask about what they did well that day, and tell them something specific about why I love them. It has quickly become a favorite part of the day, and Milo makes sure to let me know if I forget, or am acting in a hurry. While I more naturally spend individual time with Dave and with Plum, these moments give me a chance to check in with each of the boys too, and think of them as individuals, as well as my whole world. 
Finding simple solutions to make sure I’m caring well for my family makes such a difference in my life.

I feel grateful to partner with the new Olly Nutrition on this post, and in this effort to make sure everyone’s needs are met. These new all natural nutrition supplements just rolled out at Target stores nationwide and are just what I needed to be able to simply and individually add some extra care into our nutrition routine.
In addition to specially formulated muli-vitamin blends for the kids, men, and women, Olly offers wellness boosts to tailor to more specific needs. Like Beauty for me, with biotin and vitamin E that, when added to my very basic beauty routine, keeps my post-thirty-and-aging-daily skin and hair looking its best. Also Joints for Dave, who has been feeling creaky from years of rugby followed by sitting at a desk all day.

Even knowing how good added nutrition is in daily life, sometimes it’s been tricky for me to remember to take them. I’ve loved Olly Nutrition though, because the packaging is cool enough that I don’t mind keeping them out on the bathroom counter where I can see them every day. Also, the kids love them so they remind me every morning to hand them out, two for each of the boys and one for Plum.

To celebrate it’s roll-out, Olly is hosting a fun Sweet Bliss Sweepstakes (just enter your name and email to enter.) The grand prize for the sweepstakes is a Day Spa package for a lucky winner & a friend, a 6 months supply of Olly Vitamins, and a personal wellness consultation with Olly‘s resident nutritionist! 100 runner ups will receive an Olly product of their choosing.So our days continue with exploring and adventures. The kids discovering the world, and I discovering them. Dave and I are trying hard to be conscious of everyone’s needs, physical and emotional, as we approach caring for my family as a whole. Creating teaching moments, taking a little extra time, listening beyond the arguments and nagging to hear the real questions, ideas, and hopes inside of each member of our little brood. And to help them become the most healthy and happy individuals they can be.

Beautiful family photos by Lizzyography