Catching up with Keri Russell: New Mom, New Cause, New Movie
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"Waitress" and "Felicity " star Keri Russell talked to ModernMom.com's Mommywood from San Francisco where she was attending a pediatric conference as the new spokesperson for PKIDS (Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases). Although her work takes her all over the globe, Keri, and her contractor hubby Shane Deary, have made New York City their home base. We chatted about life with her four-month-old son, River, and her current projects, both philanthropic and on the big screen.
Are you adjusting to your new role as a mom?
Its really good! Its a whole new world, Ill say that! We like him very much. Its going great and hes such a good little traveler, too. For work I have to travel so much and hes been on the plane with me many times. Hes so good. I just hope he stays that way!
Any recent milestones for River?
You know, every week something new starts happening and it just gets that much more fun. He started smiling and youre just thinking, Oh my god!, after all those months of just taking care of someone without any recognition or acknowledgment at all. And then he actually starts to look at you and smile. Now hes starting to laugh and he can hold himself up more. Every little step along the way kind of makes it easier in a way for me. And it is true that around four-and-a-half to five months they start to get happier, a little more comfortable in the world. And when theyre happy, youre happy.
How do you balance your career with your new family?
Oh, boy. Im learning along the way, thats for sure!
I do have to say that in the beginning I was very much in denial. I thought I didnt need any help, that I could just do it all on my own. I was schlepping River to photo shoots and interviews, just praying that hed stay asleep in the sling until I finished an interview or a script. I got my first babysitter last week. And my, oh my, does that help! It wasnt as clear to me because I dont go to an office nine to five, and my work is very sporadic and all over the place. I have a girlfriend in California who emailed me and said, Dont be a martyr. You need help. And its true, even if you have somebody just so you can go for a walk in the park. You come back and you are such a better mom for it. I would say a little bit of help goes a long way.
With your busy schedule, what drew you to devoting so much energy to PKIDS?
As a new mom youre inundated with all this new medical information, facts, tips for how to keep your baby safe. I, like everyone, was researching everything. Basically PKIDS knew I was a new mom and the organization was looking for someone to partner with. This campaign, Silence the Sounds of Pertussis, is about encouraging parents to talk to their pediatricians and get the adult booster for pertussis, which is also known as whooping cough.
What should people know about pertussis?
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