Emilie Kiser Explains Why Elf on the Shelf Is ‘Painful’ After Son’s Death

Emilie Kiser continues to navigate her endless grief, in the wake of her young son’s death, during the holiday season.

“I prepared myself for things in my personal life, but not for what I’d see every time I opened my phone,” Kiser, 26, wrote via her Instagram Story on Monday, December 1, sharing what life is like for her as Christmas draws closer. “I know I’m in control, and I know there are things I can do to protect my mental health. I’ve gotten good at staying off my phone and not scrolling. But seeing so many moms doing Elf on the Shelf is giving me such painful flashbacks of memories and traditions we loved so much.”

Kiser’s life changed forever in May when her 3-year-old son, Trigg, died after he was found unconscious in the family’s Arizona home pool. (Emilie and her husband, Brady Kiser, welcomed their second son, Theodore, in March.)

“Teddy is too young for me to do things like the Elf this year, and honestly, I just don’t have it in me,” Emilie explained to her 2 million Instagram followers. “These are the moments where grief makes everything feel heavy and confusing.”

Influencer Emilie Kiser Is ‘No Longer’ Sharing Content About Her Sons

As the final month of 2025 begins, Emilie can’t help but acknowledge how much has changed in one short year.

“Last December was so different, so special and so full of Trigg,” she said. “This year, and every year from now on, won’t feel the same. It can still be special in its own way, but never the same.”

Although Emilie has resumed posting on social media, the influencer took a break from the platforms for several months following Trigg’s death.

During Emilie’s social media hiatus, authorities submitted a criminal charge recommendation for Trigg’s father, who was home when the fatal incident occurred.

A statement shared by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office later said there was “no likelihood of conviction.” (Brady’s attorney thanked investigators in July for a thorough investigation and reiterated the case was “a tragic accident.”)

Emilie returned to social media in August and paid tribute to her “baby and best friend” Trigg.

“Loss of this magnitude feels impossible to put into words,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “The light and spirit he brought into this world was bright, pure, joyful and undeniable. We miss him every second of every day and continuing forward often feels unbearable. I never thought we would experience grief in this way or the pain of losing him so suddenly.”

Emilie Kiser Slams Criticism Over How She's Grieving Death of Son Trigg

Emilie also acknowledged that she “should have done more to protect him,” including installing a permanent pool fence.

As followers continue to get a small peek into Emilie’s grieving journey, the influencer explained why she continues to be so honest online.

“I’m not posting this for pity,” she concluded in her latest social media post. “I just hope that being real about this might help someone else who’s going through something similar.”

For more on pool safety, see Bode Miller’s tips and visit Coverstar’s website during Water Safety Awareness Month.