A Mama Moment with Luxury Realtor, Kerri Madden

As a third generation Angeleno, Kerri Madden is intimately familiar with Los Angeles. Growing up, she was captivated by the architectural variety in SoCal. This fascination, along with her extensive experience in business, sales, and marketing, led her to pursue a career in real estate.
Prior to becoming a realtor, Kerri represented many distinguished beauty brands, including Moroccan Oil and Living Proof. She worked tirelessly to maintain multi-million dollar partnerships with Target, Walmart, and TJ Maxx.

Kerri squeezed us into her busy schedule for a chat, delving into the truths she’s learned while raising her little girl.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned as a new mom?

That parenting is all one big cha cha. You’re constantly going to go two steps forward in one area and one step back in another– and that’s okay.

What was the one thing no one told you but wish they had?

That breastfeeding is SO hard and painful! My mom breastfed five kids with extreme ease and my various mom friends seemed to have no issues. It was so difficult and painful for me. I couldn’t understand why. Thankfully lactation consultants exist.

What do you miss about being pregnant?

The baby kicks! That will forever be the most amazing thing to me.

What don’t you miss?

The heartburn! Oh my gosh the heartburn was so bad. I slept sitting up for the last 4 months. It was brutal.

What was the biggest surprise?

How much personality such a small baby can have– She’s been feisty and silly from the start.

What advice would you give yourself knowing what you know now about motherhood?

Just go with it. Do what works and gets you both through to the next day with as little fuss as possible. So many people told me to not start certain bad habits early on or they would be impossible to break (using a pacifier, rocking her to sleep, letting her nap in the swing while it rocked). She dropped the pacifier on her own at 4 months and eventually learned to fall asleep without me. You both need as much peace and quiet as you can get and if these crutches enable that then so be it!

Do you have a self-care ritual?

I don’t have a ritual per se, but I make it a point to get out of the house at least twice a week, baby free. It can just be to Target and back, but having at least that little bit of alone time does so much for my sanity and helps break up the day to day.

About the Author

Arianna Schioldager

Writer.