Emilie Kiser is finding solace in her online community. Four months after the heart-wrenching drowning of her 3-year-old son, Trigg, in the family’s pool—a tragedy that also involved her husband, Brady Kiser—the TikToker made her return to social media amidst her ongoing journey of grief. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m really nervous right now,” Emilie confessed in a TikTok video posted on September 20, her voice trembling slightly as she clutched a necklace bearing her son’s name. “I’m not entirely sure there’s a right way to start this video, but I’m going to try my best.”
“I’ve missed chatting with you all every day,” she continued, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I truly cherish the community we’ve built here, and I hope that by coming back and sharing what I choose to, I can reconnect with you and, perhaps, offer some comfort to anyone going through a similar ordeal.”
Acknowledging her prolonged absence from social media, the 26-year-old mother revealed that she’s been taking life “one day at a time” and intends to approach her content with the same mindset. “I’m not going to pretend that everything is okay, and I don’t want my return and the creation of content to give that impression,” Emilie stressed. “This is really therapeutic for me. I miss talking to you guys, but I’m not sure what that will fully entail. I don’t know how much I’ll be willing to share, especially about my grief journey.”
“The last thing I want is to get on the internet, break down in tears, and spill every single emotion I’m feeling because I’m genuinely trying to process everything as best as I can,” she added, her voice steady but tinged with vulnerability. “If you’re going through something similar, I just want to say that I love you, I’m here for you, and I understand how tough it is.”
While she did offer a glimpse into the more mundane aspects of her life, the influencer had previously expressed her intention to set firmer boundaries regarding what she shares online. “When I first started on social media in 2021 as a new mom, my goal was to connect with other moms and find a community,” Emilie—who is also mother to 6-month-old Theodore, her son with Brady—wrote in an Instagram post on August 28. “Going forward, I will be establishing clearer boundaries on what I share online.”
The loss of her eldest son had swiftly taught her that her online relationships lacked healthy boundaries. “In the future, I hope to reach a point where I can share more about how I’m navigating this grief, but for now, all I can say is thank you for the love, compassion, patience, and space you’ve given us to grieve,” she continued, her gratitude palpable. “I am more grateful for it than words can ever express.”
