Real Talk

Issa Litton: Walk the Talk

by Kevyn Gohu
June 7, 2024

1Lit Corp’s Issa Litton shares how she balances life as a mom to two growing young ladies and an active career.

Even as she manages and builds 1Lit Corp, girl mom of two Issa Litton finds her life at home just as eventful as her career. Amidst hosting gigs and training new young hosts to find their limelights, she navigates through what many call the trickiest seasons of parenting — the one where she “slowly lets go.” Both her daughters had their “mama only phase” which she admits to missing.

“With Bella, I miss how she would want to go to events with me,” Issa laments. “But she’s got her own events now that she’s part of a Stage Manager group and Grid, a youth theater ensemble, an educational theater organization by Everyman Presents. With Chasey, I miss her wanting to be with me 24-7. She was like a koala — always clutching at me and needing to make sure I was around.”

Although their little bubble of “just us” time has popped, seeing them pursue their interests independently fills Issa with a wistful sense of pride. Witnessing how distinct her daughters’ personalities, quirks, interests, strengths, and habits are from one another further excites her as she challenges herself to connect with each daughter.

“To meet them where they are and who they are — recognizing, respecting, and responding to their individuality — each child is really unique and I have no doubt there will always be more for me to discover as their mother, as they are also slowly growing into who they will become & what they want to be,” Issa beams.

Embracing her daughters’ “This is me!” phase…

Bella’s and Chasey’s distinction from one another is clear, according to Issa. Besides having their own friends/ barkadas, her daughters’ choice of clothes, movies/shows, music, who they choose to build friendships with, and how they deal with peer pressure — it’s their open declaration of “This is me, mom!” which is something that amazes Issa especially when they express, reason, and explain their views about certain topics.

However, some things such as good habits and values aren’t up for debate — something Issa Litton admits to being strict with when her daughters were younger. But Issa adds that there’s a necessary follow-up to keeping them drama-free: having a good relationship and open communication with her kids but at the same time, remaining strict with certain things such as manners, morals, and values.

True, it is easier said than done but Issa reveals three possible paths: either dealing with life together, sweeping things under the rug, or putting on appearances. To which, she always chooses the former.

“Gray areas are where conversations and dialogues come in. I’d rather we talk about things, no matter how difficult or awkward,” she points out. “Life is not perfect. When it comes to parents & kids, we don’t get to pick or choose. But, we are on this journey together and we will make the most out of it.”

And if she’s lucky, she adds, they’ll keep her along for the ride, wanting to include her in their lives, no matter how old they get. “Thankfully, we do turn to each other for anything — be it sharing a high, something we’re proud of or excited about, to admitting we did something wrong. They even update me on the colloquial terms and expressions of their generation — so I get to kind of relate, be in the know, and even use it in my hosting gigs!”

The joys and challenges of being a girl mom

Despite the trickiness of her parenting season, the differing values and interests are a challenge that Issa Litton isn’t a stranger to. Watching them grow made her realize that they were no mini versions of her but their own person. “While my daughters like princesses, dolls, and Tinkerbell, I enjoy cars, martial arts, and Star Wars,” she confesses. “But they definitely made me softer and showed me to appreciate giggles and the silliness.”

She adds, “They made me embrace my femininity more. They show me there are other ways to approach things and deal with life.”

But what truly sends Issa over the moon as a girl mom is being on the receiving end of her daughters’ affections and hearing about their good behavior from others. “Morning snuggles, hugs, kisses — the lambing they give me. Nothing tops that. They care,” she gushes. “It’s also gratifying when I hear from co-parents or teachers commend their good behavior or something they did in an activity, how they contributed more than what was expected of them (to name a few examples). It’s how they are when I’m not around.”

Yet, the true show of Issa’s closeness with her daughters is when Bella and Chasey offered their insights on Love and Life — things they definitely learned from their mom.

“Excellence is a habit. There’s always room for growth and improvement,” Bella starts. “Failure is part of learning.”

“Time management,” Chasey chimes in. “There’s a time and place for everything.”

“Oh, hygiene and manners definitely count,” Bella adds with Chasey nodding in agreement.

“Find out what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing. Be so good at it that people will pay for it and you’ll never “work” a day in your life.”

And while their differing personalities are more than obvious, they do share a common mantra. “This too shall pass,” they chorus. “All the highs, lows, the in-betweens, and the ordinary — Life goes/moves on, no matter what.”

Life as a career mama

Although many say motherhood means saying goodbye to a thriving career, Issa Litton proves its possible. With a successful career as a host and even running her own company to train the new generation of hosts, Issa reveals that part of her ability to maintain such a delicate balance between motherhood and a career means not being afraid to ask for help from family.

“Mommy duties doesn’t have an OFF switch,” she laughs. “But thankfully, I have my family, co-parents, teachers, and coaches who help. I am blessed to have them when it comes to pick up, drop off, guidance, and bantay their [her daughters’] activities.”

However, it seemed that growing and running 1Lit required some “mommy duties” from her, too. Starting her business — 1Lit Corp — had its fair share of growing pains, especially when she first started out in 2019. “I was very mothering in my teaching style which isn’t necessarily a good thing,” Issa admits. “There was this pressure wherein the hosts from 1Lit were like me. They do represent me in a sense that they carry my brand of hosting and the name.”

It was quite ironic, she adds, how she saw her trainees more as her mini-me than her own children. However, the realization that her trainees’ unique selves, guided by 1Lit Corp’s 5 Cs, are what made the company the powerhouse agency for hosts. “I learned to let go of things and set healthier and more professional boundaries,” she admits. “My mentees and I eventually learned to take things objectively. That way, we could hone our skills to provide the best hosting we can.”

That realization continues to serve as the core of 1Lit Corp’s philosophy which is seen in the many hosts who have mastered their craft under the former’s banner. But Issa reveals that it wasn’t an epiphany she came up with on her own but through her two daughters.

“It really takes a village!” Issa exclaims. “The evolution of my management and training style came from how I’m parenting my daughters who are now in their teenage and young adult years.”

1Lit Corp: Adding a shine to every event

So long as their values remained aligned, there would be a vibrant and supportive community willing to help anyone become the host they dreamed of becoming. Issa reveals that 1Lit Corp has become more brilliant than ever now that she has a team to help her manage and hold workshops for other aspiring hosts.

“To set the standards and uphold excellence & professionalism in hosting. There is more to hosting than cue cards/teleprompter and a mic. To build a legacy. To continue contributing to the events industry that I love,” Issa enumerates her agency’s vision and mission. “That is what 1Lit Corp aims to accomplish.”

As a thriving career woman or a girl mom, Issa Litton’s philosophy doesn’t change. Her shine comes from her unwavering belief to “walk the talk.” “It’s living by example,” she shares a few examples. “Work depends on bookings but there are scheduled vacations. And I set aside time for my interests – like theater or acting projects, movement classes, QT with friends.”

But walking the talk isn’t just for her. “It’s for my daughters, too.” she confides. “Although I talk for a living, I’d like to think that my kids see that I walk the talk. Having an attitude of gratitude and finding joy in making your way in the world — that’s what it is for me.”