Aro Ambassador
Wynne Elder
About
Wynne
I'm Wynne, wife to Stephen and mama to four kiddos aged 3-12. While we spent the first decade plus of our marriage growing our family (by way of international adoption and IVF), now we are on the other side of growth and are in the season of raising these kids. Our family motto is to "author fun, live curious, dream wildly, seek adventure, cultivate generosity, invite authenticity, pursue people, and practice His presence." We love life in our college town and spend our days learning, growing, and making memories together!
Q&A with
Wynne
Do you have a moment when you realized your phone was getting in the way of what's important to you?
I wouldn't say that I had one moment where I realized my phone was getting in the way. I think it was a lot of moments over time. I have been an entrepreneur my whole motherhood career and have relied on my phone to do a lot of my work, connecting, storytelling, and photographing. So, I think it was not one moment but something that picked up over a decade. When I really could step back and ask what matters to me MOST, it wasn’t ever anything that included a phone in my hand.
What has Aro allowed you to accomplish while you were disconnected from your phone?
Aro has allowed me, I wouldn't say to accomplish more, but to be present more. And not halfway present with my mind on what needs to happen on my phone, but fully present on what I'm doing or who I’m with. Especially in the season as I homeschool our oldest son, who has special needs, and being able to put my phone away while we homeschool has allowed me such peace of mind. My husband and I both love to put our phones in the Aro box when we get home in the afternoons for our family time. It's just allowed not just my body to be present but for us to be emotionally present in the home.
If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be?
This is such a good question! I haven’t even been much of a “celebrity” person, and besides the cliché answer of Jesus, I would have to say my grandmother, “Noni”. She died as I was beginning my life as an adult, and I would love to get to hear her wisdom on life as a wife and mom.
What’s your favorite book?
Also so hard to narrow it down to ONE book, I am a reader! However, my go-to author for all things non-fiction and memoir is Shauna Niequist, and my favorite fiction author is Kristin Hannah. I am, however, re-listening to “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Marc Comer for the third time currently, so maybe we should add that one to the mix!
What motivated you to become a resource for busy moms who want to clear their mental clutter and live in the present?
I have seen the effects that creating systems and rhythms and presence in my own home has done for my family and our relationships, our connections, and our presence. I can't love something or do something and not share it with somebody. It's just in me. It's my personality. It's my passion, my love to get to pass along the things that I've learned to others, and if I can help another in any way from struggling as much as I did before I figured this out, then that is really my goal.
