Our family pledge

Tells us a bit about your little family!

I’ve been married to Kenny since 2007 and together we have 3 children; Harper (11) who’s gentle, intelligent and sweet, Levi (5) who is wild and challenging, but also so compassionate and insightful, and finally our darling little miss Violet, our sassy 3-year-old who is slowing taking over the house.

How did you get into making TikTok videos?

I downloaded TikTok during the March lockdown of 2020. I thought it seemed like a bit of fun and a great way to pass the time as well as do some lip-sync videos and post my COVID art that I had been doing (large floor murals using bits and pieces from around the home that also feature my children). That organically evolved into what we refer to as #asklevi (videos with my then 4-yearold son). People would send in all different questions for Levi to answer such as “How do I know if I’m in love?”, “How do I get my kids to eat more veggies?”, “What are your thoughts on LGBTQ+?”, and (thankfully) “What is your favourite quote?”, to which Levi answered “A good rabbit never gives up, from Peter Rabbit, and our Family one” (referring to Our Family Mission Statement, a little poem I wrote for my family that focuses on the universal themes of compassion, tolerance, and love). We then posted Our Family Mission statement on the 31st of August… and here we are.

Most TikTokers use the platform to gain followers and hopefully make posts go viral. But for Australian mum of three Emmaline Carroll Southwell, TikTok was more likely was just a way to fill in endless days of lockdown with her kids! But a poem about their family values, recited on camera by Emmaline and her three kids, has attracted 4.5 million views worldwide and has now been made into a picture book, the first book deal in Australia to arise from a single video on the social media platform! Emmaline’s hugely popular TikToks have been entertaining families during lockdown, with content such as her four-year-old son Levi’s surprisingly logical explanation of why he believes Jesus was bisexual and non-binary (12M views), and the popular ‘ask Levi’ videos in which the delightfully perceptive Levi answers questions from his fans on everything from the Black Lives Matter movement to how you know you’ve found the one.

Levi talks about some ‘big issues’ on TikTok. How do you initially approach these conversations with your kids?

Well most of our ‘big issue’ conversations are initiated by them just asking questions. I try to always answer as best I can and with ageappropriate detail. Sometimes however when big events are happening around the world, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, or what’s been happening in Afghanistan, or even the new Texas abortion laws, it prompts me to initiate discussions with them.

Obviously, the conversations are tailored to each child, and I’m selective with what I think would be appropriate for them to hear and comprehend. For example, I didn’t discuss the current Texas abortion laws with them specifically, but rather it prompted me to revisit our conversations on women’s rights, consent, and the ethos of my body, my choice.

What were your thoughts when the Family Pledge poem video went viral?

I was absolutely overwhelmed! At the time of posting that video I was six months into our first lockdown and really struggling. The night before I posted it, I had an epic Mummy meltdown (on my own in the car), it was my lockdown misery crescendo! I felt so incredibly defeated and deflated. The next day however I posted our Family Mission Statement video and what came back was so much support and love and reassurance that I was a great parent.

I know a 60-second video doesn’t determine whether or not I’m actually a good parent, but those little comments of affirmation were what I so desperately needed at that time. And it just got better and better from there. 10 days later I signed a book deal with Affirm Press to adapt it into a children’s book (Our Family Pledge), and a few months after that I signed a contract with Beautiful Chorus who transformed it into a song.

How does Levi feel about being a TikTok star?

Ha, I’m not sure if he actually knows what that means. Sometimes I show him stadium pictures of what 360k people look like so he can have an understanding of how many followers we have. He does sometimes say “I’m a TikTok boy and I have lots of friends that love me”, so perhaps that’s his understanding of being a TikTok star.

When Affirm Press got in contact, what was your initial reaction?

I was ecstatic, and then cautiously optimistic until I received an actual contract, and then back to ecstatic. I was blissfully joyful every single day for weeks, to the point where I was probably sickening to be around.

What’s been the best bit about having your poem become a picture book?

Oooh that’s a tricky one because this whole process has been one delightful surprise after the other, but perhaps what I currently am liking most is that I have contributed something small and tangible into our world with a timely and important message. I feel very proud of that.

And finally, what’s your favourite part of being a mother?

I absolutely adore that with the birth of my first child it completely unlocked some hidden temple of LOVE hiding within me that I never knew existed. I had no idea I could love like that until I had Harper. It was pure magic. I also love learning from them. They teach me so much from what a mob is in Minecraft to the importance of listening and patience … I’m still learning the patience one though. Our Family Pledge by Emmaline Carroll Southwell, illustrated by Vivian Mineker (Affirm Press), is out now at Booktopia and all good book stores.