In 2022, Kayla Sullivan had a humorous little thought: Since changing into instantly single, she was now not working as a information reporter, however why not “report” on her toddler and his hijinks? She uploaded a video to TikTok of a pretend information report about his full freak-out in an Olive Backyard, and shortly her life would by no means be the identical. The video, which put her “reporter voice” to good use, and which parodies each native information report you’ve ever seen, rapidly went viral, amassing 31 million views and 1000’s of feedback.
And as she posted related movies, utilizing every little thing from a toy microphone to a Stanley straw cup for a microphone, her following grew and grew. She now has over 1,000,000 followers and tons of cute/hilarious/relatable movies, all “reporting from on a regular basis life,” as she says in her bio.
Virtually two years after first going viral, Kayla’s life has discovered a completely new path. The one mother has been capable of give up her workplace job and as soon as once more pursue her dream job of being a journalist: She’s now working for a neighborhood Indianapolis information station specializing in humor and parenting.
And she or he’s additionally — breaking information — in a critical relationship once more, with somebody who first noticed her making her now-famous mother reviews.
Scary Mommy sat down with Sullivan to debate her rise to TikTok fame, her greatest recommendation for folks, and what it’s like working full-time and relationship as a single mother.
Scary Mommy: How do you steadiness being a single mother and having a profession? What have you ever discovered from that journey?
Kayla Sullivan: I had two passions in life: to be a TV information reporter and to be a mother. And people two issues lastly each occurred to me on the similar time. However then I grew to become a single mother unexpectedly. It was very tough being in that demanding of a profession and being a mother who did all of it on my own. And so I type of felt like I wanted to choose, and I knew that that present position in that place wasn’t working for me. So I left information, I received a nine-to-five PR job, and the steadiness was simpler at that time in my life. However I nonetheless missed my ardour of stories reporting.
So I began posting these movies of me reporting on my son only for enjoyable, simply to type of get that feeling of reporting reside once more. They usually went viral and it led into this entire new profession that I have been capable of create. It is greater than I might have ever dreamed and has been extraordinarily rewarding and has allowed me to have that work life steadiness that I dreamt about.
I really feel like I am the most effective mother I might be as a result of the present position I am in permits me to have far more time with him, a way more versatile schedule. So I assume the largest lesson I discovered is to not be afraid to stroll away from what you suppose is your dream job to create one thing that works for you, your loved ones, your schedule — that permits you to be the most effective model of your self.
As a result of in all actuality, once I felt like I used to be doing a superb job as a information reporter, I felt like I used to be failing as a mother. And once I felt like I used to be doing a superb job as a mother, I felt like I used to be failing as a information reporter.
Discovering a job that works I feel could be the most effective recommendation I’ve for folks.
SM: What sort of response do you get from mother and father out of your movies?
KS: Folks see themselves in parenting content material and know that not every little thing goes to be good. There are some creators on the market that make parenting look very easy, after which there are some creators on the market that make parenting out to be precisely what it’s, which is tough, however superb and difficult, however enjoyable and all of those conflicting emotions. My reviews inform it as it’s, inform the info, and I attempt to do a superb job of showcasing the nice and the dangerous.
SM: A few of the most relatable moments are if you discuss issues that occur in parenting that perhaps folks do not discuss as a lot. Have you ever ever shared one thing that you just have been fearful that different folks do not relate to or do not feel?
KS: Completely. I really feel like I am going to have moments considering, am I actually about to put up this? I am unable to consider I’ve uncovered myself. I’ve finished reviews on how soiled my automobile seat is, how soiled my automobile is, issues which might be so embarrassing.
After which folks will ship in their very own movies of the identical factor. That is what I like essentially the most: when folks really feel comfy sharing their very own experiences with a messy playroom or a messy home or my son’s eaten scorching canine two days in a row. Issues which may make you are feeling responsible as a mother or father, however you are doing the most effective you’ll be able to. Simply listening to that different folks wrestle in sure areas too, like choosy consuming, potty coaching, all of these issues.
And I’ve had folks message me and say, ‘Thanks a lot for posting this. I felt actually alone and this makes me really feel much less alone, and meaning loads to me.’
SM: Have you ever ever gotten shamed although? Are folks ever like, ‘Oh my God, take a look at that automobile seat’?
KS: I’ve very self-deprecating humor, so I feel persons are like, ‘Effectively, she’s already overwhelmed up herself sufficient. She is aware of. She is aware of she’s not good. I need not inform her.’
The factor that hurts me essentially the most is when folks say, ‘That boy wants a father.’ As a result of no one is aware of my full private story. And I prefer to hold it that means as a result of I prefer to suppose forward about what’s greatest for my son. I need to make sure that I am not embarrassing him proper now. He is 4, so he is doing all the regular issues. So I feel finally it’s going to develop to simply hypothetical conditions or conditions that different mother and father have instructed me about with out calling a selected child, as a result of I do need to be conscious of what I am sharing about my son.
SM: What’s your greatest piece of parenting recommendation?
KS: I might say to maintain it easy and attempt to shake off the strain to be good… simply do not sweat the small stuff.
For instance, there’s nothing extra irritating than unpacking your kid’s lunchbox on the finish of the day solely to seek out that the contents have been utterly untouched. And Juicy Juice truly ran a survey that discovered that almost 72% of fogeys say the contents of their kid’s lunchbox goes uneaten. And so my recommendation could be to typically simply let the youngsters pack what they need to eat themselves. I let him name the pictures on what to pack in his lunchbox earlier this month as a part of Juicy Juice’s JJ FriYAY lunch problem. And it was an enormous success. Alan was actually excited to be a part of the lunch packing course of and have a say over what he eats at college.
SM: What has occurred together with your profession because you’ve gone viral?
KS: I’ve created a child phase known as Kidding with Kayla on Want TV right here in Indianapolis… We repurpose my reels and we do little challenges and we discuss to parenting locations locally and we herald Indianapolis mother and father and simply actually enable that group that I’ve on social media to be a part of the Indianapolis group. I completely adore it.
It is totally different than information reporting clearly, however I nonetheless get that serving-my-local-community repair that I’ve at all times cherished. And that was why I entered the journalism subject. So I’ve mainly created a profession out of my viral movies, which is insane to suppose that that was potential. I’ll ceaselessly be glad about it.
SM: You talked about relationship as a single mother. Are there any reviews coming in from that subject?
KS: I’m relationship, and that is breaking information right here: I do formally have a boyfriend and it has been good as a result of he additionally has a son and he will get it.
If there are any single mothers studying this piece, I might advocate simply being intentional about it, ensuring you make a listing of the issues that you just’re wanting. It is tough to seek out the time… particularly if you’re full-time mother, full-time reporting. However I feel in my occasion, this individual may be very understanding and in addition is aware of what it is prefer to put his child first.
It’s very nice to have that companionship that hopefully will evolve right into a partnership in parenting as a result of I feel many single mothers wrestle with the lack of a associate wanting any person to have this journey with. One in all my favourite issues about my movies is that a number of mother and father will say that they ship my movies to one another.
He additionally had seen my movies earlier than we began relationship and mentioned he associated to them. So it was simply type of cool that he knew me earlier than I knew him due to social media.
SM: I am wanting ahead to perhaps some blended household content material or single mother reviews.
KS: I’ve already talked to him — Would you be comfy with me reporting on among the elements of what it is prefer to mix a household or up to now? And he is open to it. I feel some folks get this impression that content material creators, it isn’t an actual job. However I do know from the content material that I obtain, it will get you thru some powerful occasions to simply smile or relate. I observe different single mothers and once they received a boyfriend, I discovered hope in it.
I feel that sharing these issues with folks will probably be hopeful, and I hope to have the ability to try this for folks in that state of affairs in order that they’ll look and say, ‘Hey, she discovered love regardless that she had a full-time job, regardless that she was a full-time mother, single mother.’ I feel that that will be actually cool to share with my followers.
This interview has been edited for readability and size.