Keri Russell Talks About Becoming Spokesperson for PKIDS

Waitress and Felicity star Keri Russell recently talked with the folks at ModernMom about her newest roles -- mom to four-month-old son River and becoming the new spokesperson for PKIDS (Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases).

Some highlights from the interview:

On adjusting to being a new mom:
"It’s really good! It’s a whole new world, I’ll say that! We like him very much. It’s going great and he’s such a good little traveler, too. For work I have to travel so much and he’s been on the plane with me many times. He’s so good. I just hope he stays that way! "

On life with River:
"You know, every week something new starts happening and it just gets that much more fun. He started smiling and you’re 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 he’s 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 they’re happy, you’re happy. "

On learning to balance her family and career:
"Oh, boy. I’m learning along the way, that’s for sure! I do have to say that in the beginning I was very much in denial. I thought I didn’t 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 he’d 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 wasn’t as clear to me because I don’t 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, 'Don’t be a martyr. You need help.' And it’s 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."

On becoming involved with PKIDS:
"As a new mom you’re 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."

Visit ModernMom to read the rest of the interview.