Raising children under the watchful eye of millions on TikTok is never easy. But for Colorado native Emily Wallace, the scrutiny is a trade-off she’s willing to accept because, as she puts it, “It’s important that people that have empathy can see what (other) people write.”
Emily and her husband, William, are raising six children: Harrison, 12, Wyn, 11, twins Griffin and Sawyer, 9, Posey, 8, and Lindy, 7. Their TikTok account documents the ups and downs of raising a large family in contemporary America. Most of their videos are lighthearted — opening toys, swimming, or everyday family moments. But a recent video about preparing for a summer road trip exploded to more than 28 million views, bringing with it an avalanche of criticism.
Emily’s page, appropriately named @whatilovetodo, is centered around her family. In her bio, she notes that four of her six children have disabilities. Griffin, in particular, has a rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome, which causes developmental delays, speech impairment, and intellectual disability.
Most comments were hateful
Speaking with People, Emily described Griffin as someone who simply “loves hard.” She explained that he is one of the most affectionate people you’ll ever meet, but that same desire for physical connection can sometimes make everyday situations difficult.
That reality is what prompted the now-viral road trip video. As the family prepared for a 10-hour drive, viewers noticed a divider separating Griffin from his siblings in the back seat.
Emily explained, “Griffin wouldn’t hurt somebody like a ton if we sat next to him, but he will grab, hold, squeeze—he wants that deep pressure. And so on a 10-hour car drive, that can be a lot for anybody. And so that is why the divider right now is very important.”
The response online was deeply divided.
TikTok has never lacked strong opinions on parenting, but Emily says some of the comments were among the harshest she has ever received. One commenter wrote, “I have a brother with similar problems. I hate him now. Even to this day I feel uncomfortable around people with severe disabilities due to trauma. It’s extremely selfish to have other kids.”
While many users defended Emily and her family, it didn’t take long to notice just how many similarly negative comments were filling the thread.
In situations like this, many creators simply disable comments altogether. As abstract as the idea of “cyberbullying” can seem, thousands of hostile messages can weigh heavily on anyone.
Emily chose a different approach.
“People don’t like me right now, but it’s important that people that have empathy can see what people write,” she said. “Parents like me and my husband — we’re really just trying to make it. And the divider video, to me, just shows that people really just can’t understand this life. It’s shocking, and it upsets people because they just don’t want to imagine that we’re going through something this hard.”
The divider was supposed to keep everyone safe
Emily says her goal has always been to help destigmatize disability and the families who live with it every day. To her, disabilities are not something to fear. But she also believes that showing only the happy moments paints an incomplete picture.
She stressed that the divider was simply a practical way to keep everyone comfortable and safe during the long drive.
In the end, the family arrived at their destination, enjoyed their vacation together, and, just as importantly, shared those joyful moments with their followers too.
Published: Jul 15, 2026 03:18 pm