AOP: How do you foster a strong relationship with your children?
Hillary: It’s tough. With four kids of very different ages, I often feel like I’m failing to meet their individual needs. They all have different needs, stages, and personalities. I’m grateful to have a Heavenly Father who supplies all their needs from His glorious riches, and I get to be His hands and feet.
I try to love each one in a way that truly matters to them — whether it’s snuggling and reading, playing football, baking cookies, building Legos, or riding bikes. One of my kids loves smoothies, while another prefers walking by the lake. Listening is key — they need to feel seen.
AOP: How does your faith shape the environment you want to create at home?
Hillary: Our faith influences everything in our home. The way we speak, the choices we make, how we treat each other, how we spend our time, and the music we listen to. The environment reflects all those choices.
AOP: How do you prioritize physical activity or outdoor time as a family?
Hillary: If you know me, you know outside is my favorite place, and I’ve definitely passed that on to my kids! We do everything outside — together! Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, cold or hot. My older kids were born in Colorado, so we don’t mind the cold at all.
AOP: What does “balance” mean to your family?
Hillary: This made me laugh. What even is balance? The truth is, the world wants us to believe we can “have it all.” But what does that even mean? There’s always sacrifice in life. There’s always healthy compromise. I choose to spend my time with my family each day, even when I could be doing other things. Is it easy? Not always. Does it feel balanced? Usually not. But it’s worth it!
Because I have both a 12- and 2-year-old, I know how fast time flies. I believe soaking up every minute, even when I feel drained, is so important. We lead a slower-paced life and do fewer extracurricular activities than many other families with four kids, which I think brings peace to our home.
AOP: What are some self-care practices you use as a mom?
Hillary: Motherhood has seasons — times when self-care is easier and times when it’s harder. I’ve had routines over the years, many of which I started before having kids, that fall into the self-care category.
I walk daily. We live near a small lake, and I often go on multiple walks a day, usually with a toddler in a stroller or riding a bike. I lift weights and do HIIT workouts, but I also love yoga for flexibility and stress relief. I cook wholesome meals that nourish and energize me.
Sometimes, I take a timeout. Just the other night, I was frustrated and overstimulated, so I sat everyone at the dinner table with their food, then took 10 minutes alone in my room, doing a sudoku puzzle and breathing. It helped me reset.
I worship and play worship music at home — my favorite is Phil Wickham. I read my Bible and pray every morning. I also write down seven things I’m grateful for each day in a journal — perspective is everything.
I invest in relationships. People are everything, and life is better when we’re connected with others. I try to talk on the phone or in person with someone each day.
AOP: How do you handle feelings of being overwhelmed?
Hillary: I pray and ask God to strengthen and uphold me, as His Word promises. I pray for patience, the fruit of the Spirit. I lay down for a few minutes to reset and feel grounded. I pay attention to how I talk to myself — saying “I’m overwhelmed” repeatedly only makes it worse.
I ask for help! This took me a long time to get better at, and I still struggle sometimes. I ask my husband, my mom, my mother-in-law, my neighbor, a babysitter, or the moms of my kids’ friends. We weren’t meant to do this mothering alone!
AOP: What does a perfect weekend look like for your family?
Hillary: Are you asking my husband or me? A perfect weekend in our family involves hiking in the mountains out west — that’s our favorite. But in town, it depends on the season. We started a tradition 10 years ago of Pizza Movie Night on Fridays. Then, a full day outside on Saturday; church on Sunday with loved ones; and swimming, golf, or a cookout to finish the weekend.
Rapid Fire Questions:
- Smoothie or juice? Smoothie
- Family dinner or family breakfast? Dinner
- Sunrise or sunset? Sunset
- Cooking or baking? Cooking
- Power of invisibility or mind reading? Invisibility — especially with four kids 😉
Hillary White and her college sweetheart, Evan, have been married for 18 years. They have four kids — Wells (12), Emmy (10), Sadie (5), and Landry (2). Evan owns Compass Chiropractic, serving their community in Opelika for nearly a decade. Hillary runs a blog (www.healthywithhillary.com) and social media platform called Healthy with Hillary, where she shares recipes, nutrition tips, mom advice, and more! Hillary says that two things changed their family forever — first, Jesus, and healthy living. Now they are on a mission to do the same. Their greatest desire is for their kids to know love and follow God.
Author: Staff
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