A daredevil mum became a circus performer after taking up acrobatics to get fit after the birth of her children - and now trains alongside her eight-year-old son.

Kristin Smorelli, 31, was a stay-at-home mum after the birth of her two children Fern, nine, and Archie, eight, in 2015 and 2016.

She wanted to find a way to exercise and Googled 'cool exercise classes near me' where she found aerial skills class.

Before having children, Kristin worked as a sale assistant and then took up acrobatics to get fit after the birth of her two children.

Kristin said the class gave her an "escape from life" and she got so good at acrobatics that she started performing on stage and at competitions."

In 2020, Kristin even started competing in aerial competitions as she felt like she had "something to prove" and she has gone on to win three national competitions."

Now, Kristin can perform on aerial straps, the trapeze and aerial hoop - also practicing alongside her son Archie, eight, who is a keen gymnast.

Kristin, an aerialist, from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, US, said: "I was a stay-at-home mum and I needed to exercise and get out of the house."

"I did a simple search to find cool exercises near me and I came across Warped Studios - which teaches people aerial."

"My ex-husband was really supportive at the time and would come home from work and let me go to my classes."

"I didn't start getting good for around two years - I have competed in five competitions now and I took first place in three of them."

"It has taken over my life and I am so happy that my son has got involved."

Kristin said she needed an "escape" from motherhood."

She said: "I was very lucky that I had so much support as a lot of mums don't have that."

"It was extremely hard when I started, I struggled a lot. I would only go two times a week and could barely climb the silk."

"I couldn't tolerate spinning as it would make me feel so sick."

Kristin said she didn't start "getting good" for two to three years and can now do trapeze, silks and straps."

She said: "It sounds weird to say but when you're practising, everything hurts."

"In aerial there is a certain level of pain, the metal hurts your hands and the silk will pinch you - it feels rewarding."

"It's a great stress release and it is my escape from life, I train around five to six days a week for about two to four hours a day."

Kristin now teaches classes and practices her skills alongside her son, Archie.

She said: "Archie has been doing aerial since he was two - he can do back flips, trapeze and acrobatic tricks."

"He has been doing aerial since he could walk, I love the fact that I can train alongside him and watch his skills grow."

"His sister, Fern, is more interested in reading and art, she is not very active but is very smart."

"She will come and watch us train a lot."

Since starting out, Kristin has performed in five national competitions and is currently practicing for her next performance.

She said: "I started competing in 2020 - I felt like I had something to prove."

"I got to a level where I felt decent enough and I thought it was time to get out there."

"I have a competition in Vegas in March, I fell at that one last year so I am ready to come back and not fall."

"I have been training non-stop and I have just started practising the routine."