Folks We Love with Ali Hynek of Nena & Co
Tell us a little bit about your journey and how you’ve come to arrive here.
I am first generation American and was raised by a Guatemalan mama. Her mother lived with us my whole life as well. I think many mixed race kids might feel conflicted on their identity but I felt very confident of who I was as a child and into my adult years. I loved my American and Guatemalan heritage but especially felt drawn to be closer to my Central American roots. Long story short, creating Nena & Co. has allowed me to do just that.
Who’s in your family? Ages? Names?
My husband: Jeremy Hynek
I just had triplets in May 2016: Penelope, Alejandra and Ethan
How did you choose your kids names?
Penelope was a girl I knew as a child and I always loved her name. Alejandra is named after me and Ethan, well when Ethan was born…he just looked like an Ethan.
Location?
We live in Highland, Utah. We recently moved from Orange County and Jeremy and I decided that we never wanted to have to commute again. So I set up my warehouse/office in the city next door, American Fork.
Occupation?
Creative Director and Founder of Nena & Co.
What’s on your manifest board?
If I had a manifest board it would be: love my family and enjoy them everyday. Be healthy and happy. Find beauty in the mundane.
Tell us some of your most loved ways to spend the day with your clan?
I love when all three babies are awake and daddy is home. We have the doors and windows open and we can feel a nice breeze coming in the house with soft music playing. We make dinner at home or BBQ and can hold the babies on the deck watching our dog Gary run around. The babies are still really small so we don’t get out much:)
What are some silly/fun things that the kids do or say?
The babies just started to learn to smile. My favorite thing is when I’m trying to feed one of them and instead of sucking on the bottle, they have the biggest smile and want to interact with me. I love trying to figure out what makes them smile too. Its such a new thing for us and its been the best!
When you were a teenager what did you dream of? Do things look different?
When I was a kid I wanted to be a “Fly Girl” on In Living Color which if you don’t know what that is than I’m way older than you:) I never even took dance lessons so I’m pretty sure that was never a real option.
What are some things you really believe in?
Family, God, prayer, taking care of your health, and working hard
Where do your passions lie?
Family, tradition, culture, and travel. I feel like I should add any tropical beach setting. I could really go for that right now:)
Has your relationship with your other half changed since having kids?
It’s definitely different. Since having triplets was our first shot at being parents we didn’t really get to ease into it. We went from hanging with each other full time, traveling the world, being spontaneous to loving on babies all day everyday. Two of them came home on oxygen tanks and one is still on it so we are really limited to where we can go and what we can do as a family. But Jeremy and I have wanted to be parents for a long time and one of my favorite things in the whole world is when all the babies are crying at once and Jeremy and I just look at each other and smile like “this is what we signed up for and it’s wonderful.”
What are some of your favorite life lessons you’ve grown to love? (even if learning them at the time was hard)
That stress really does affect your health. And it’s not worth stressing over things that are out of your control.
What do you wish you could’ve told yourself when you were a teenager?
Don’t mess around in college and just get it done. Study abroad. Use sunscreen (you’ll still get tan), start your 401K now.
What do you find most challenging about being somebody’s parent?
Sometimes I don’t want to be in charge all the time but I just started so I guess its OK 🙂
What do you want your kids to learn about the world?
I want them to know what a beautiful place the world is. I want them to see as much of it as they can. I was lucky enough to see over 50 countries or so and my wish for them is that they can do the same. Not to be afraid of things that are different from what they know but to embrace and appreciate it.
What are 4 things you can’t live without as a parent?
Babies nap time
Baby Breeza Machine
Puj bath tub
My handy iphone to take a million photos