Once upon a time there was a new mother who decided that she wanted to go shopping for some new clothes. This was three weeks after the birth of her first child. She went into a major department store, struggling all the while to maneuver her baby’s stroller, position the diaper bag, and find what size clothes she thought would fit her post-partum body – all in an effort to do it quickly and without fuss from her new born. Her experience was less than satisfying as she realized that she couldn’t find anything that fit her right and her new body wasn’t at all what she had thought it was. The very young, hip, salesgirl led her to feel inadequate and unsure of herself.

Does this sound like you? It sounds all too familiar to me – the horrors of making it back into the world post-partum and realizing that you aren’t quite the person you remembered you were just a short time ago.

This is the story of Megan Tampte, the creator and founder of Hot Mama, a very special clothing boutique just for moms! And, I had the pleasure of getting to shop there yesterday for a new pair of jeans!

But, I actually came out with not only the new pair of jeans, but three new tops and a super exciting feeling that I can’t remember having felt in quite some time! The feeling of self-confidence…of holding my head a little bit higher…of being able to say, I’m a mom of two young boys, and don’t I look hot? Yes, that’s right! I said that…because that is the point of this store! To outfit moms at any stage to feel special and attractive.

It is a place where moms can shop in a friendly environment that allows them to bring their children with them and feel confident that their strollers wont get stuck in a clothing rounder – because the space in between them are wide for that purpose!

The clothing in Hot Mama is divided by color and the associates who work there are trained professionals. They know immediately what to look for and they won’t insult a woman’s pride by bringing her something too tight or not right for her body type.

The clothing here is tasteful and age-appropriate. Meaning, it isn’t the junior’s section in the department store that we moms often wish we could wear…The clothing here makes me proud to be a fashionable mom and glad that I’m not shopping in the junior’s section! (No offense, junior’s section, but I’m not a junior anymore!)

It’s glamorous, but real and uninimidating.

You’re family can come with you and relax in cozy chairs with snacks of animal crackers and bottled water!

You’re tiny ones can play right out in front with a basket of toys.

And your older ones can even play some friendly, educational video games while they wait!

The fitting rooms are spacious and bright.

With a three-way mirror for checking all sides! 😉

I tried on these jeans here…don’t laugh…but I love them and they are on me right now as I type this!

I guess when you buy good quality jeans, there are special ways to take care of it! Who knew?

Let me just say that when I walked in and the very sweet associate asked me what my style was…what kinds of clothes I like to wear…I stumbled through my thoughts, gave up on them, and muttered something like…”cozy pants and hoodies.” I explained that I am a mom to two young guys and mostly my days are spent driving my oldest to and from school and toting my small one in and out of the grocery store, the library, Starbucks, etc…

She was so sweet and helped me figure out that I liked to look nice, but also be casual, while still hip and able to have fun! She even taught me that I wasn’t the size jean that I had thought I was! I was even a size smaller! No wonder I think I have looked so awkward-I’ve been wearing the wrong size jean…in an effort, I think, to hide trouble spots! But who knew how empowering it could feel to wear the right sized clothes and feel good about it!

Tears grew in my eyes when I read the story that Megan wrote on the Hot Mama website because I think it is so true, it almost seemed like she was speaking to me. You aught to read it. Here’s the link. And, you can find out where the location closest to you is…and browse their site. 🙂

My motto yesterday whenever I tried to feel guilty for buying such nice things for myself was this: If I don’t take care of myself and help myself to feel good and confident, then how can I be any good for the people who depend on me? Seriously. Maybe it is a little materialistic, but I’ll say it again in a way a girlfriend of mine explained it to me once – It’s similar to when you’re on an airplane and the flight attendant tells you to apply the oxygen mask on yourself first because if you don’t help yourself first, how can you help anyone else?

Go help yourself, you Hot Mama, you!