One of the best parts of blogging has been being able to connect with and find amazing bloggers out there! One such blogger is Sincerely Maryam. She is known for being on trend and can work a skinny jean on so many levels. This year, she was blessed to become a mommy to baby Isa (don’t you love the naming pattern?). Despite her extremely hectic schedule of newborn, work, running a business,  and moving to a new house, she agreed to an interview and let us all in on how she manages to do it all!

Me: Assalamu alaikum! Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview! I am such a huge fan of yours! Congrats on the little one! You are so inspirational! How did your delivery go?

Maryam: Wa alaikum as salam. It was a bit of surprise and didn’t go as planned, I had to have an emergency C-section. So the healing process was a bit slower and felt a little tired and worn down from L&D. Alhamdulillah baby and I were ok.

Me: What has been the biggest change from pre-baby to post-baby life for you?

Maryam: Time management! Before baby, I could just do what I wanted, when I wanted. Weekends weren’t very structured, I could party until 3 AM. Now, everything revolves around the baby’s schedule. Just thinking about everything 100 percent differently now. Baby is the priority now. You know, sleep when the baby sleeps.

Me: You can party with the baby at 3 AM! How has becoming a mom changed your fashion style?

Maryam: Before baby, I never wore super clingy clothes. It was always a more modest style; looser, flowy tops pre-baby. During the pregnancy, stomach obviously got bigger but not much else, so I didn’t have to buy all new clothes. The jean size changed around my stomach/waist so I used a hair tie to expand it (laughing).

Me: Mashallah, that’s great! How has the transition been back to work?

Maryam: It’s definitely has been a transition! It’s such a momentous event to have a baby and it takes over your daily life and once you settle into a pattern, then it’s time to go back to work so it was definitely different once I went back. My work performance was being affected so they allowed me to come in a bit later. I have to make good use of my time, I have an hour commute to work and have to make sure I go to bed early. I am lucky alhamdulillah to have family help also.

Me: How have you been able to stay in such great shape?

Maryam: I was lucky in that it was more belly than overall weight gain. The body does change and skin sags. I haven’t really started any hard core workouts yet but I do eight minute YouTube workouts. I guess all the running around that I do doesn’t hurt either!

Me: Has your blog audience changed? Will you be blogging more about mommy issues?

Maryam: Of course! Being a mom has definitely affected my life and I would love to share with my readers more about my new life inshallah.

Me: What are your tips on raising a good Muslim child in the West?

Maryam: You have to raise them to be confident! Don’t be apologetic for who you are! Why are we as Muslims always saying sorry? Don’t be sorry for who you are! Knowledge will lead to confidence. Teach them about the world. Don’t hold any subject as taboo. If you shelter them too much, it’s too much of a shock once they’re out in the real world.

Thank you so much for your time and advice Maryam! I pray that you and your family are successful in this life and in the Hereafter! Lots of love ❤ Welcome to the hijabi mommy club!