Meet Haylie Steffensmeier

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Haylie S family

Hello Des Moines’ mamas!

For starters, I am SO excited to be part of this group! I can’t wait to learn, love, and live this mommin’ path with you all.

As a born and raised central Iowan, I LOVE THIS CITY and take great pride in the diversity, learning opportunities, and family-friendly experiences Des Moines offers.

As for DMMB, I was fortunate to discover this group of compassionate women roughly two years ago when I was brand new to the mom scene and looking for support. Since then, I’ve been an avid reader and while a little nervous, I am looking forward to trying out the contributor side.

Before kids, I filled my life with great memories at UNI, graduating with degrees in elementary and middle school education. I started teaching in Waukee in 2012. Today, that is where I continue learning, serving as a school counselor. I can’t imagine not loving what I do each day and while some days are easier to love than others, I am truly fulfilled by the students, teachers, and families I get to work with.

While my experiences working in education prepared me for a lot, my simple world of late night bike rides, spontaneous vacations, and cheering on the Hawpanthlonedogs (we cheer for all things Iowa in this house) exploded when we welcomed our first daughter in August of 2015. Though unexpected, she was never for a moment unloved, and in a blink my life changed for the better. I had loved a lot of people and things before Olivia, but she showed me what it meant to be filled with love every single day.

Our first year with Olivia was a doozy. We moved, bought our home, planned and celebrated a wedding, and I finished my MS in school counseling. Though change was happening all around us, and at times was completely overwhelming, there was a sense of peace that Olivia brought to our lives. At the end of the crazy, we had a happy, healthy baby, and it was fine that everything else was just OK.

Just when I was thinking we were doing all right and our lives were returning to somewhat predictable, we wanted to have another baby. Fast-forward two years and Olivia is now a big sister to our new daughter, Parker. I was so worried leading up to her arrival, thinking I was ruining our little team, but nearly three months in with Parker and I can’t get enough of the love between two sisters and how incredible it is that the heart only knows to grow. At times, I still can’t believe that I have kids (plural- ah!), but I can’t imagine my life without them- minus the clean floors and sleep.

When we aren’t trying to teach manners to our two-nager or keep up on bottles with our newborn, my husband and I love a good kidcation. We love to travel and if we can go alone, super, but if we can’t, the kids are coming and we’re just rolling with it.

Our summers are regularly booked with adventures and trying new things. Whether it’s the restaurant down the street, a Saturday at the DSM Farmer’s Market, the Ozarks for a week with family, or a beach that’s a few plane rides away, the best commitment we made to each other was not to give up the things that we love. Bike rides, road trips, and nights with friends on our deck may look a lot different post kids, but it’s what makes us, us.   

Thank you for welcoming me! I hope the stories I share can somehow connect with you.

I believe we have a lot to learn from one another, and while that includes information, it also includes love and support. As I mentioned earlier, I found this blog when I was brand new to the mom scene and seeking out information on what to expect (that was not in the book). I hope to add to the compassionate, positive space this is.

Please feel free to share your stories with me, I’d love to hear from you!

Best,

Haylie

[email protected]

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Haylie Steffensmeier
Born and raised in Central Iowa, I feel so lucky to still call Des Moines my home. As a full-time working mom of two girls, wife, and lover of the many events Des Moines hosts, our weekends are never empty. While it's easy to get caught up in our day to day routine and social calendar, I appreciate a laid-back night of sweats, great company, and good wine most. I am so grateful that my life has been filled with amazing memories, but my short, humbling journey of motherhood has by far been my greatest adventure.

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