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I wasn't pregnant when I first interviewed for the role of CRM Manager at Haute Hijab. Well, I was, technically — I just didn't know it yet. I received the offer from Melanie and Ahmed a few weeks later, just days after my first positive pregnancy test (I took about 10, just to be sure) and I asked them if I could think it over.

"Would it be dishonest to accept a new job knowing I'll need to take maternity leave in eight months?" I asked my husband Chris. We hadn't even told our friends and family yet and didn't plan to until the heartbeat was confirmed.

Long story short, I did accept the job offer, and when I finally revealed my big news, our HH team was elated for me. My anxiety lifted. I went to work the next day with my baby bump on full display. My nausea was gone, my pregnancy glow had finally appeared, and I was ready to finally enjoy that second trimester energy I'd heard so much about.

News of a novel virus was splattered all over my Facebook timeline. The word "pandemic" was showing up everywhere. I entered my third trimester in early March 2020, just as things started getting serious in the U.S. with the COVID-19 global pandemic. March 13 was my last day in the office. I'll never forget it. I packed up a few items from my desk, thinking I'd be back after maternity leave (ha!), and went home to set up my (temporary) home office.

To this day, I still haven't changed a diaper in a public restroom. I've only nursed my son Sebastian in public a couple of times. Sebastian has only sat in a restaurant high chair one time, and he’s never been on an airplane. The anxiety is real. How do you go from parenting in isolation to parenting among other people? Am I doing any of this right, I wondered? I haven't had the opportunity to observe many other parents, and very few have seen me as a parent.

We are not meant to parent in isolation, but I did. We all did — together, but apart.

Giving Birth and Babyhood During a Global Pandemic

The next three months after our HH office shut down were a complete blur of exhaustion, confusion, fear and excitement. I cancelled my baby shower. I told my parents I'd see them when the baby was born (another "ha!" moment looking back). I set up the baby's room. I took pictures and videos of my growing belly to show my friends and family who would never get to feel him kick or see me in my cute maternity jeans. It was sad. This was my first child, and it just wasn’t how I imagined any of it.

But, we were lucky. We never got sick and my pregnancy was uneventful in all the ways you hope it will be.

Sebastian was born in June 2020 in New York – the height of the first wave. My husband was allowed to join me in the OR and recovery room, thankfully, but he wasn't allowed to leave. Before giving birth, we were worried I’d have to be alone, as hospital policies and rules were changing. Chris slept in the uncomfortable chair next to my bed for two nights, holding and cuddling Sebastian when I wasn't nursing him. I'm so grateful I wasn't alone, but I'll forever wonder what sharing the joy of our newborn son with our friends and family would have been like.

Lindsay, Chris and their baby son Sebastian after giving birth.

On the other hand, I saw the incredible blessing in our bizarre birth experience. We got to hold our son as long as we wanted. We stared at him as long as we wanted. We spent those whole three days in the hospital together as a family of three, uninterrupted, without any distractions.

When we got home, we immediately called Chris's parents, who live about two hours away, and asked them to come help. We knew it was a risk, but we couldn't do this alone. I couldn't do this alone. They stayed with us for a week. I cried the day they left, not just because I was hormonal and exhausted and didn't know what the heck I was doing, but because I didn't know when we'd see them again – or anyone.

I missed my own mom and dad so much it hurt. I felt robbed of that bonding time we should’ve had, that time they should’ve spent with their first grandchild. But they were in Florida, and it was too risky to travel. We were alone again, and for how long this time, we didn't know.

As the days and weeks went on, Chris and I grew more confident in our parenting abilities. Sebastian was sleeping through the night, breastfeeding was really starting to click, and my body was starting to feel like it was "mine" again. When my maternity leave ended, I was able to continue breastfeeding since I was working from home. I became a pro at working one-handed. Sebastian napped on me exclusively.

Lindsay and Sebastian looking outside from their apartment.

We took daily walks to the pier where he could look out and see the Statue of Liberty in the distance. Don't get me wrong, the days were long and they were hard. My apartment was (and still is) a complete disaster. I can't remember if I put on makeup or even did my hair. I was exhausted. But I also was so happy. We had found our rhythm, and all three of us were drunk in each other's love 24/7.

We got the first dose of the vaccine almost exactly a year later in March 2021. It was another day I'll never forget. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I nursed Sebastian, giving him as much antibody-filled liquid gold as I could muster.

But among my tears of joy also fell tears of sadness and dread. With this vaccine and the pandemic coming to an end (or so we thought – yes, another "ha!" moment), what would become of the quiet little world we cultivated over the past year? How do we do this parenting thing around other people?

Pandemic Parenting and Reentering Society

But it's more than that. Being a pandemic parent means never really learning how to parent while being you. The pandemic stripped me of my most cherished hobbies and passions, and while that's certainly not unique to me, it's a different experience entirely when you have a newborn at home.

In some ways, motherhood fundamentally changes you, and you already have to alter your priorities and give up (to an extent) things you did pre-baby. But pre-pandemic, you were able to include your children in the things you do and gradually introduce them to the things you love – going shopping, visiting museums, having dinner with friends, whatever. But when there’s a pandemic, you're forced to relinquish it all. So instead of Sebastian assimilating into the life we had, we had to create an entirely new one devoid of other people.

I spent the first few days and weeks of motherhood grieving the loss of the life I once had as well as the moments and memories that never were and will never be.

That said, the ability to lose yourself entirely in your child is a beautiful privilege. How many working parents can say they were able to spend almost every waking moment with their child for the first 365 days of their life? I am blessed in more ways than I can count. But now it's time to (safely) emerge from our quiet little corner of the world.

Every day I'm learning how to make time for myself again and finding new ways to nourish my mind, body, and spirit. I'm re-learning how to connect with other people and actually have real conversations with them (instead of just always talking about my son). I'm slowly but surely getting better about leaving Sebastian with a (vaccinated) caregiver for a few hours.

This separation isn't just healthy for me, it's also critical for Sebastian's development. He's 14 months old now, just on the brink of so many new skills and discoveries. By reconnecting with my old self and rediscovering my new self, I'm helping Sebastian cultivate his own sense of self. How amazing is that?!

In a few weeks Sebastian will be starting daycare, and soon those early days of pandemic parenting will feel like a distant memory. There is still a lot of anxiety, with the Delta variant, and a fear that daycare will close shortly after it opens. Anxiety doesn’t go away easily, especially for those of us who birthed babies during this pandemic. If this was your experience, I’m sure you understand what I mean. I feel a connection with anyone who had the experience we had.

But our little family will forever be shaped by what we went through these past 18 months, and the same goes for the thousands of other families like us. And perhaps that is the greatest lesson of all: this whole time we were never really alone.

Not What I Imagined – How the Pandemic Shaped Birth & First Time Motherhood

 rocked a FlexFit Sport hijab during the 2021100m Olympic race, she showed the entire world that we can't be banned, and we won't be stopped. Whether you're hitting the gym, the pavement or even just the grocery store, our athletic hijabs can help you achieve your goals – no matter how big or how small. Because sometimes just getting through the day feels like an Olympic sport, are we right?!

And, that's one of the best things about our 

 – these hijabs are so versatile, whether you wear them for a casual walk in the neighborhood or a serious run. Check out these three ways to style our HH Sport Collection. 

If your daily uniform consists of sneakers and sweats, join the club! There's no shame in your game, especially when you have a million errands to run. The next time you sprint out of the house, try our revolutionary 

. Not only will these hijabs keep you cool in super hot temps, but they also feel weightless thanks to the ultra-light, stretchy fabric. The lovely @

 paired her Tech Wrap in Rose with a matching sweatshirt and comfy joggers.

 are perfect for a day at the beach because they're lightweight and fast drying, plus they offer full coverage protection thanks to the built-in 50 UPF. Want to play some beach volleyball? No prob! The adjustable interior drawcord allows you to wear it as snug as you want, so it won't fall off. California girl @

 rocked her FlexFit in the color Smoke with a modest swimsuit and pair of matching sunnies. 

No one crushes it harder on the court than our HH Sport Ambassador 

 in the color Carbon. This pull-on hijab is great for high-intensity workouts because it stays put without budging – not to mention the incredible cooling, odor-repelling, moisture-wicking, and breathability benefits. You need to feel it to believe it! 

Do you have one of our HH Sport Hijabs? Which one is your favorite? What is your favorite thing to do while wearing it? Share with us in the comments below!

3 Ways to Wear Our HH Sport With Varying Activity Levels, Including the Olympics! 

 in early February, we sold out in under three hours! And every time we restock our masks, they tend to be a fan favorite. (If you find they are sold out when you go to buy them, don't worry. They will be back in stock again in a few weeks.) What makes these masks special? For starters, they were created specifically with YOU in mind – the hijab-wearing mask hackers!

Hijabis (and anyone who doesn't want to wear a mask looped behind her ears) face a unique challenge when it comes to mask-wearing, and like so many of you we were fed up with all the so-called 

 out there (like using tape or paper clips to secure the straps around your hijab – no thank you!). Our new Hijab-Friendly Bamboo Masks offer both protection and comfort, plus they currently come in two gorgeous colors. Blush and Mauve.

Keep scrolling for three styling tips to help you cover your face and your head with ease.

Looking for a fun way to wear your Hijab-Friendly Bamboo Mask? Try mixing and matching complementary colors! In the picture above, our brand ambassador @

 with an HH mask in Mauve. Our Blush mask looks stunning with deep purples, like Everyday Chiffon in 

When designing our HH Masks, our goal was to make sure you could wear them with everything. That's why we chose to launch with Blush and Mauve – two gorgeous neutral shades that can be paired with a variety of prints and patterns. How cute does our Marketing Manager Noor look above wearing her Blush mask with a snakeskin print and a plush winter coat?!

Is there anything more annoying than reaching underneath your hijab to put on or remove your mask, especially if your hijab is pinned or tied in place? Frankly, it's a pain. We totally get it. That's why unlike traditional medical masks, our straps are positioned at the top and bottom of the mask rather than on the sides. This allows you to secure the mask OVER your hijab instead of placing the straps behind your ears and wrapping your scarf on top. 

If your mask feels too tight against your face and hair, try doing like our ambassador @

 pictured above, and place the top strap above your bun and the bottom strap below for added comfort. 

Stay safe and keep wearing your mask! Share with us in the comments below your favorite hijabs you pair with you HH mask!

3 Ways to Style Our Hijab-Friendly Bamboo Masks

Raise your hand if you've been working remotely since the start of the pandemic. Us too! Here at Haute Hijab, we were already somewhat familiar with video conferencing since our blog editor, Dilshad, who lives in Virginia, was our first team member to work fully remote. And, we've always been pretty flexible about letting people work from home when they're sick. Still, there's been a LOT to still learn about Zoom – especially when it comes to hijab styling. 

Keep scrolling for some of our favorite style tips from a few hijabi professionals (including our own Melanie Elturk!) who always looks put together on Zoom!

Favorite HH products to wear in Zoom meetings:

 and neutrals that go with everything, secured with 

1. Set up your computer 5-10 minutes before your meeting is scheduled to ensure that your camera and audio are working.
2. Turn on and adjust lighting for adequate brightness.
3. Sit at a comfortable desk and chair and have water on hand to stay hydrated.

 I still go with my standard on-air style, which is a shorter side on top of my head (for some volume) and the longer end pinned over my shoulder.



 If someone tells me they'll be ready in five minutes for a Zoom interview, I go straight for 

. It always looks new, even after several washes, and if I'm in a pinch I don't have to worry about ironing because the stretch erases all the wrinkles!

1. Download the Otter app on your phone and set it next to your speaker to transcribe your interview/meeting in real-time!
2. Keep water next to you. Sometimes a whole day will go by and I will realize I've only downed coffee!
3. Take a break! It's hard to tear yourself away from work, but sometimes I will get up and walk around the living for a hot second and then come back to my desk.

When I want to look extra polished and professional, I tuck my hijab into a high-neck shirt. This style works especially well with a classic white button-down.



 Anything from our Heritage Collection (my favorite is 

 are also a must to keep everything in place.



1. Make sure your light source is in front of you so you don't end up backlit.
2. Angle your camera so there's a few inches of headroom above you in the frame.
3. Zoom has a special soft focus filter called "Touch Up My Appearance." I'd be lying if I said I've never used it! 

 I enjoy a side bowtie with a classic button-down.



1. Get a pair of blue-filtered glasses to help your eyes when looking at the computer all day.
2. Make sure to wear comfy pants since no one can see (I’m wearing my PJ pants!).
3. Make sure you don’t have anything embarrassing in the background.

What are your Zoom tips for a camera-ready look? Share with us in the comments below!