Before creating her own brand-building empire, The Terminal Presents, Jenne Lombardo masterminded Fashion Week’s brilliant partnership between M.A.C. & Milk (which she still oversees). Known for her fierce style—leather pants, six-inch platforms, and heavy-metal jewelry—this super-organized mother of three gracefully switches from reading bedtime stories to walking red carpets, while managing to make it all look easy.
Roxy, five-and-a-half, Bowie, four, & Valentine, almost two
May 20111. "My Nanny
3. iPhone for kids' games and music.
4. Playing hide and seek—they actually think I can't see them, and I always pretend I can't.
5. The smell of my youngest guy’s breath when he yawns—it still has some hints of smelling like a baby, which I try to hold onto."
"I’m from Ohio and, before I had kids, I questioned if New York was the right place to raise a family. I absolutely love it, though, and can’t imagine living anywhere else. You’re not isolated and that’s a really important thing when you first become a mom."
"Bowie’s going to be a photographer, a chef, or a professional skater. And Valentine’s going to be a billionaire."
On Jenne: Helmut Lang knit top, The Lake & Stars bra, and J Brand pants
Roxy and Bowie’s toys
"I’m always challenging myself to figure out how I can be more present. Because I started my own company, I said to myself, there are things I’m going to be able to do that I wasn’t able to do before, like picking up the kids at school and bringing them home. But I feel a tremendous amount of guilt. My mom told me it just comes with the package. She said, 'as soon as you become a mom, you’re just filled with guilt. And that’s just the way it is.'"
"I love the I Spy books: the animation is spectacular."
"Even though these go against my entire being, Crocs are great for the summer. The kids can put them on themselves and you can wash them in the sink at the end of the day."
"For families with two or more kids, Phil & Teds strollers are essential."
"My kids love magnets—they're especially into magnet blocks that they can build with."
"I just love having a girl. She takes such good care of the whole family. We play 'fashion' almost every morning—she dresses up in my clothes and shoes and puts on fashion shows for me. She walks to Balthazar in her heels."
Valentine's bright bedding
"We work, we go out, but we’re also up at 6:00 a.m. making breakfast, getting them dressed for school, bringing them to school, picking them up from school. I don't think people fully understand."
"She comes up with really cool outfits—I love how clothes fit kids."
Roxy playing in Jenne's H&M dress
Framed sonogram of Bowie
Hanging mobile
"My pregnancies were amazing—that’s why I had three. I was really born to have babies."
Wall of artwork in Roxy and Bowie's room
Roxy's vintage chair
"When meltdowns happen, I try to stay calm and say to myself, ‘this too shall pass.’ I try not to forget that they are just little people, and it’s our job as parents to teach them good behavior and that is only exhibited by our actions."
"What’s so fascinating is that I never raised them to be super girly or boyish, but boy do they figure out what they’re in to—it’s all them."
Skull head pillows on the top bunk
"If I had more time, I’d spend the entire summer at the beach and read them a book every night before they went to bed."
Hanging pirate ship in Valentine's room
"They get to watch T.V. on the weekends."
Artwork
"My main rule is that I let them pick out their clothes. Even Valentine [pictured here] has started to pick out his own."
"I live for kissing and cuddling with my children—we are all very touchy feely. I fear the day when they no longer let me squeeze and kiss their adorable little bums."
"I like the chaos of it all—it’s fun energy. Coming from a big family (I’m one of five), there’s always chaos. And what I do for a living, it’s high stress, so I always just try to stay calm."
"This used to be my walk-in closet. That’s what happens—you think you have a proper two-bedroom apartment and then you have three kids."
Sparrow crib from Oeuf
"My most humbling parenting moments are when I go to an event or to work with residue on my clothes (be it toothpaste or spit-up). Or when my kids call me out when I'm due for my next waxing appointment!"
Roxy in Nicholas Kirkwood lace-up platform sandals
"I work out about five days a week for an hour. I didn't always, but now I find it helps me start the day off on the right track. It is undeniably hard to schedule so I try to go first thing in the morning. If I don't go by 10:00 a.m., I'm more likely to not go."
"I’m proud of them every minute of everyday. I’m so grateful that these beautiful little soul-babies are mine—they are my soulmates."
"Roxy loves being an older sister. She gets out of bed, gets Valentine out of his crib, and gives him his bottle—it’s like Christmas morning for her."
Vintage Eames table from eBay
"We play 'monster' in the park. It starts by me chasing my kids around and pretending to be the monster and it ends about 30 minutes later with at least 10 more kids."
"I love watching my kids talk to family on the phone—it makes them equal parts nervous and excited. They are still confused that there is a voice, but the person isn't physically here."
"As a mom, we have so much on our plates and we sometimes forget to just let loose and really be present with our kids. Sometimes I wish I could assume the role of the fun aunt instead of the mother, just for a moment."
We call this [chair] his VIP pass—he uses it to get in anywhere. A friend of mine jokes, "There’s Valentine with his VIP pass, going right through.'"
"I love hearing their thoughts about marriage, where babies come from, outer-space, dinosaur extinction."
"I get a kick out of listening to them try and negotiate terms with me for treats, T.V. time, and reasons as to why they should be allowed to stay up later—they’re like little lawyers!"
"Being a mother is instinctual."
