We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Owen Squires a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Owen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
My parents were very hands on. They allowed my brother and I to ask as many questions as we liked, and they’d always do their best to appease our curiosity.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have been a TikTok creator for just over a year now. I had my first viral video in the Summer of 2022. I was a stay at home dad then, and found myself struggling with the crushing amount of mental and emotional capitol required to maintain one’s composure in that position. TikTok became a sort of conduit to the outside world for me. An opportunity to connect with other parents, also adrift atop the flimsy lifeboat of sanity, amidst the turbulent seas of parenting.
The content that I created, and the value other’s seemed to find in it, changed and grew over time. Initially I discovered joy in producing videos with sarcastic, relatable comedy about parenthood. I pulled back the curtain on the various challenges I’d encounter raising my two toddler girls. Videos about cooking the kids lavish meals, only to have them refuse eye contact with it, let alone eat it. Other’s touched on the trappings of a perpetually messy home, the casualties of toddler warfare, and the profanity my three year old liked to hurl, without warning, at the grocery store.
I found my true calling, however, in addressing some of the deeper, less talked about aspects of parenting. There’s this shared sense of camaraderie amongst parents, a bond and a relatability that we see in one another. So while not everyone may agree with any given take on a subject, we’re still eagerly drawn to the conversation.
Some of the most popular content I’ve created has delved into the nitty gritty of abusive vs gentle parenting, the division of domestic labor, and the stay at home parent roll and how it’s likely tougher than any job you’ve had. Another subject that seems to have us swarming like moths to a porch light, is generational trauma. The ongoing debate amongst millennials and boomers, about tough love and the impact it’s had over the last 30 years.
I’ve seen what it’s like as a stay at home parent, and the preconceived notions I’ve held about it’s value and difficulty, were blown straight out of the water. Because of that, and the fact that I’m raising two girls, I’ve become a bit of an advocate for women, and the silent struggle they’ve carried on their backs for generations.
There’s so much I want to say, and so much left to explore. Seeing others find value in a topic like parenting, one my heart is so partial to, gives me a tremendous sense of gratitude and satisfaction. I’m grateful to everyone who’s supported my journey thus far, and I invite you to come a long for the ride!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I would say the mission of my creative journey is to help, in a small way, raise the consciousness of the dads/ husbands of my generation. To help generate discussion around how we can do better for our children, and our significant others.
How did you build your audience on social media?
The way I built my audience on social media was by not being afraid to get vulnerable in my content. I like to keep things authentic, I’m also totally comfortable making fun of myself. I think we see a lot of curated, highly polished, influencer type content now days, and it gets a little tiresome. It’s also unrelatable, at least for me. I think people really enjoy seeing others showcase their struggles, while also finding a way to laugh them. That’s the recipe for success, I think. People like what they can relate to.
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