Sarah Litwin-Schmid

Guest Overview

Sarah Litwin-Schmid is a 38-year-old mom of one, a creative director at Airbnb, and an unapologetic believer in raising independent kids. She grew up as an only child herself and, despite marrying a husband from a big family, confidently chose to raise an only child, too. Originally from New Zealand, she’s lived all over the world and now calls the Bay Area home. When she’s not busy crafting brilliant campaigns at Airbnb, you’ll find her hanging with her "found family" in Alameda, losing bets to her husband, or watching her hilarious daughter take center stage as the family comedian.

Episode Summary

Does having only one child mean you’re missing out—or is it the ultimate parenting hack? In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Litwin-Schmid, a creative director at Airbnb, world traveler, and mom of one, to talk about her decision to be "one and done"—and why she has no regrets.

As an only child herself, Sarah always knew she wanted to raise her daughter with independence and self-sufficiency, but navigating modern motherhood has brought unexpected challenges, societal pressure, and plenty of sleepless nights. She opens up about the mental load of parenting, how different cultures approach raising kids, and why American parents are more stressed than ever.

We also get into:

• How growing up as an only child shaped her parenting style

• Her mom's boundaries of no parenting nights or weekends when Sarah was growing up

• The stigma of having just one kid (and why it’s outdated)

• Why today’s parents feel guilty for fostering independence

• Her husband’s very different take—coming from a family of four

• The real reason she has a tattoo that says “Chris was right” (you won’t believe it!)

• Plus, Sarah answers the ultimate question: If she knew everything she does now… would she still choose to have kids?

This is a fun, honest, and deeply relatable conversation about parenting expectations, mom guilt, and the decisions that shape our families.

Fun Fact

Sarah has a hilarious habit of making bets with her husband where the loser has to get a tattoo—and she’s lost twice. One of them says “Chris was right” after she wrongly predicted that Leonardo DiCaprio would never win an Oscar.

What do you wish you knew before having kids? 

That parenting never “eases up”—it’s a constant, always-on responsibility. Even when you get a break, your brain is still running through the to-do list.

What advice do you give your expectant friends? 

Delegate! Divide and conquer wherever possible. You don’t have to do it all—parenting is a team effort, and taking time for yourself is just as important as taking care of your child.

What has been the most impactful part of your journey in parenthood? 

The realization that I need time for myself to be a good mom—but that doesn’t mean my brain ever fully turns off from “mom mode.”

What has brought you unexpected joy throughout this experience? 

I did not expect my daughter to be so funny. She’s a total ham, knows exactly how to make people laugh, and I love watching her develop her own sense of humor.

What is a sentence that sums up the most impactful part of your journey? 

“Parenthood is so long it's not even comparable with an ultra-marathon, where you’re never really off the clock—but somehow, you keep going.”