Jen @The Haute Mommy Handbook MOMMY MUSINGS

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

sahmSo what do you do for a living?

This is the question I dread being asked the most. I used to answer, “I’m a stay-at-home mom,” (SAHM), to which the reactions have ranged from a slow confused nod, to a fleeting expression of distaste.

I stopped responding “stay-at-home mom,” and instead say, “I’m at home with my kids.”

The responses range from “Oh, that’s nice…” (patronizing yet understanding nothing)

To perplexed: “So…what do you do all day?”

To: “You’re so lucky! I wish I could sit at home instead of going to work every day!”

The emotions I feel are mixed— exasperation that they have no clue that it is work, to a kind of unhappiness and frustration, in that no matter how much I explain it, it really takes one to know one.

Let’s compare a typical day as a SAHM to how it might translate in an office setting:

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Jen @The Haute Mommy Handbook MOMMY MUSINGS

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

first day title

Pumpkin started preschool for the first time this month.

I had no idea how I would react on that first day.

On one hand, I was almost certain she would adjust easily since she is naturally a very social person. On the other hand, she had never attended school before, and had only stayed alone with her grandparents, and we didn’t know how much she would miss us.

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Jen @The Haute Mommy Handbook STYLE

style sheet: spring into easter!

spring into easter-title_w1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Spring is here, and with it, all the beautiful pastels that are the hallmark of the season.

As I’m the mom of two daughters, spring dresses always catch my eye, whether we’re attending an Easter egg hunt, planning an Easter get-together, or just because they’re so darn cute.

From classic tulle-and-lace numbers to vintage styles, with all the choices available, your little princess will be sure to look adorable this season.

Have a good weekend and Happy Easter, lovelies!

Jen @The Haute Mommy Handbook MOMMY MUSINGS

SKINNY GENES

skinny genes

I guess you could say it all started on Pumpkin’s second day of dance class.

The first day, I was wearing a long, shapeless sweater—we all have that one. The second day, I wore a new form-fitting sweater and my skinnies tucked into my boots.

As I joined my daughter in her parent-toddler Dance and Movement class, jumping, crawling, waving my arms–I took a peek at my reflection in the wall-to-wall mirror, and felt a hint of pride. Two kids later and I still got it, my brain crowed.

But pride goeth before the fall, as they say.

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Jen @The Haute Mommy Handbook HAUTE MOMMY HOW-TO SERIES, TRAVEL

HAUTE MOMMY HOW-TO: AIR TRAVEL WITH YOUR INFANT AND TODDLER

air travel-infant-toddler

This post may be a little late for those of you who traveled during the holiday season, but I could only write it after I had traveled myself. You see, I flew out-of-town to see my parents and siblings for Christmas, forcing my husband and I to do that scary thing that all parents of little ones dread: the inevitable Air Travel With Your Infant And Toddler…dun dun dun!

We’d already flown internationally with Pumpkin when she was a year old, and across the country with her before she could say airline peanuts. But this time around, things would be a little different. For starters, we would be flying with two kids this time.

Okay, things would be a lot different.

And it was the holiday season.

And it would be Pumpkin’s first time flying in her own seat.

And it would be Peanut’s first time flying–period.

If you are about to find yourself in a similar situation in the near future, read on:

Continue reading “HAUTE MOMMY HOW-TO: AIR TRAVEL WITH YOUR INFANT AND TODDLER” →