More Mom Advice from Kelly Sawyer

Back in July, Nicole Richie opened up her blog to her fans for a Q & A session with her good friend Kelly Sawyer, a fellow fashion mom whom she looks to for advice on motherhood. 

Then, Kelly answered our question on how to balance work and family life all while remaining fabulous and fashionable, and now Kelly is back answering more fan questions.  This time, on a similar note, I asked Kelly how she handled heading back to work after maternity leave. I will be going back to work in just a few short weeks after a wonderful year off with my little man, and it’s just hard to believe that I will be back on the grind full time and away from my son for most of the week.

Dear Kelly,
After giving birth to your children, how long were you off on maternity leave, and how did you feel/cope with having to go back to work. I have 2 months left before my son heads to daycare full time and I’m back to work. I’m kind of dreading it.

Joanna

Dear Joanna,
I am lucky that I have a pretty flexible schedule & create my own hours but everyone dreads leaving their child and I completely understand how you are feeling. I can say that as much as it is difficult to balance working and being a Mom I really enjoy what I do and makes sure to make the time I do have with my kids very special. You’ll get back into the swing of things on the work front– it may just take a little time to adjust. Just remember, you’re doing the best you can!

Kelly

This is great advice. I completely agree that is definitely helps to love what you do when all that time is being spent away from your family. And Kelly is right! All of us moms working or not, must always remember that we are doing the best we can.

Check out Nicole’s blog here to read more great advice from this fab fashion mom of 2, and don’t forget to leave a comment with your own questions for Kelly!

Mom Advice from Nicole Richie's Friend Kelly Sawyer

Last month, fashion mom, Nicole Richie, opened her blog up to a Q&A session with her good friend, Kelly Sawyer-Patricof, to offer moms a chance to ask for her advice.

“You can consult all the experts in the world, but the opinions you value most are the ones that belong to your friends.” Nicole expressed. 

When pregnant with her first child, Nicole felt a little unprepared as a young, first time mom. She read all the books, but the transition to motherhood seemed out of reach, and she was feeling overwhelmed. That’s when she turned to her friend Kelly, who seemed to manage it all. 

“Kelly is one of those great women who seem to take the juggling act of motherhood, marriage, and work in stride — while wearing 5-inch heels and drinking a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.” She wrote.

As a working mom of 2, creative director of fashion boutique Satine’s Private Label, and co-president of Baby2Baby charity (as seen in our previous post – Fashion Moms Unite for a Good Cause), Kelly was the ideal person to ask for advice, and Nicole wanted to share that with her fans as well. So we submitted a question on behalf of Montreal Fashion Moms. Check out what advice Kelly had to share us!

Dear Kelly,
Could you give us and our readers some tips on how to balance work and family life, and how to stay fabulous and fashionable while keeping up with everyone’s hectic schedules.
Thanks,
Joanna & Yussie
http://montrealfashionmoms.blogspot.com/

Dear Joanna and Yussie,
It’s definitely a tough balance, and some days you want to throw your hands up in the air and scream. That being said, I definitely have some tips. Both Nicole and I are very schedule-oriented. Our kids wake up at 7, nap from 12:30 to 2:30, and go to bed at 7. Not only is it great for the kids because they feel secure in their routine. It’s also great for us to know when we’ll have free time. In the beginning, when I wasn’t working, I knew I had two hours in the middle of my day when I could work out, schedule an appointment, or have lunch with a girlfriend. Getting your children on a sleep schedule, where you know your mom time ends and your grown-up time starts at 7, keeps you sane. There’s always going to be guilt that you’re not spending enough time with your children because you’re working too much – or letting your work slide because of the kids. You just have to have the attitude that you’re doing the best you can, and enjoy the time you get to spend with your kids.

Just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you aren’t still fashionable, fun, and allowed to do your own thing sometimes. After the kids’ bedtime I still look at fashion magazines and fashion blogs, shop on-line and keep up with what’s going on. Plus, Nicole and I have been on a few mommy trips without our kids to London and Paris. (We leave the dads in charge at home. They need some kid time, too!) You come back feeling so refreshed and happy to be back with your kids, and so glad you had a few days alone to recharge.

Love,
Kelly

Thanks to Kelly for all the great advice, and to Nicole for providing the avenue to ask. Hope you all can take something away from Kelly’s helpful advice on how to manage work and family life all while remaining a fabulous, fashionable mom.

Check out Nicole’s official website blog here (part 1) and here (part 2), to see what other advice Kelly had to share with fans.

Looking for some relationship advice as well? Nicole and brother-in-law Benji Madden are no experts, but they are taking questions now to share their advice too.