Since you associate memories with scent, here's a cool idea that I saw recently - where you and your partner pick out a scent each that you're going to wear on your wedding day so you can forever associate that scent with the memories on your wedding day!
I haven't got to the phobia chat bit yet, but I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your openness about emetophobia! I think you were the first person I'd ever seen who has it and understands. It made me feel validated when I was 14 and now when I'm 24 ❤ Thank you Zoe!
Fellow science nerd and physician assistant here, our olfactory nerve (how we smell) is the only cranial nerve that goes directly into our cortex so our brain has a very strong and instinctive association between smell and memory :) Whereas our other special senses go through the thalamus first to be processed. The human body is amazing and I genuinely love learning about it, and I don't think you need to wait til the next lifetime to be amazed by it!
"I'm in the thick of it, and I don't know either" is such a simple yet comforting phrase!! Our babies are 2 weeks apart, and most days I don't know either :)
Zoe, I’m a silent watcher but I just had to say I love love LOVE when you talk all things emetaphobia, I have it too and I don’t know anyone in my personal life who has it and you were the first person who spoke about it where I had that moment of, omg I’m not crazy someone else thinks this too. When you describe the different things like the dates on everything, over cooking everything I’m just shouting yes yes YES at the tv because I feel that to my bones!! Thankyou for making me feel like I’m not crazy💓 I also started seeing a therapist because of you and I’m only a couple months in but it’s already changed my life and I would never have take that leap if it wasn’t for you ❤❤❤
i dont have emetophobia but i do have health anxiety and omg its so consuming and frustrating. I have developed agoraphobia (fear of leaving the house) because of this. i'm slowly but surely starting to combat it but it's a work in progress. i'm currently working with a therapist from betterhelp and she is amazing fr. thank u for always being so open about mental health!! i love u sm zoe, we can get through this
I’ve struggled with emetophobia since I can remember too! I loved your chat about it as I can relate so much. I think about it multiple times a day and also have vivid memories of people being sick or myself. You’ve reassured me that it’s possible to have children and a family with this phobia.❤
I remember being like 14 wondering what was wrong with me and why no one else struggled with sickness like me!!!! Low and behold here we all are years later talking about it. I love that we’re all talking about it now. I also did the Thrive Programme for anyone struggling it’s amazing ❤
I've been having anxiety forever, and you were the first person I'd ever heard talking about it openly. And that was before I even had a word for what I was experiencing. Nobody talked about mental health back then (lol we're old). I've been watching your videos ever since ! It helps SO MUCH when you understand your brain is doing exactly the same thing as a lot of other people's brain 😅 Thank you ❤🩹
FTM of a 9 Month Old - I was so unprepared for how much I would lose myself in the postpartum phase. Now that we are at the 9 month mark I feel like I'm just starting to get my head above water. I want more children but am low-key nervous for the initial postpartum phase again.
The emetophobia chat really made me feel reassured. The pavement scanning! Remembering every single experience. It's so sad that this affects so many of us, but after hearing people tell me I'm just being silly and it's not a fear, it's so nice to hear other people go through exactly the same experiences and all the daily routines we do to prevent being ill
Thank you so much for including the phobia chat section. I have watched your videos for as long as I can remember and I have also had severe emetophobia for my whole life. You really are a true inspiration to me for so many reasons but especially seeing you become a mum has made me realise that that is also something i could potentially do in the future which is an idea i really struggle with due to my phobia. Thank you for being such a lovely, strong and inspiring woman💕
Listening to you echo all my thoughts and fears of emetophobia was, i have to say an absolute breath of fresh air. Im not at all happy that anyone else suffers from this debilitating phobia but it makes me feel so less alone. 💖
Bring back the good old summer vlogs, chilling in the garden with Mark, Poppy and Sean, having water fights, bbq and fun in the pool (and now, plus the giiirls)!! ❤
This video made me cry because I’ve always felt so alone with my emetophobia. I had a panic attack just the other day because I felt nauseous and thought I wouldn’t get through it. But it’s incredibly comforting that you’ve been able to manage having the same phobia and becoming a mother. There have been so many times that I’ve doubted I could ever be a mom and at almost 28, it still scares me. But I’ve honestly looked up to you for so long and just knowing that you’ve done it makes me feel like maybe it’s possible. Thank you soooo much for this video.
Hang on .... Is another vlogust coming? 😀That would be a dream :D My favourite Zoe vlog would have to be a cozy day at home (and a car chat with Mark) 😉
1. Don't compare old Zoe to the Zoe you are now. Nobody ... Even your loved ones without kids... Aren't going to be bothered. 2. So many moms lose themselves. Having something (or more than one something) that is yours, that makes you happy as an INDIVIDUAL not a MOM, is so important. This stage will be gone before you know it and when the girls start school, having your "me things" will help you go into their new stages stronger. Luckily, you have so many amazing talents, so many things that you can focus your energy on, that you'll not only be happy and mentally healthy, but your daughters will learn how to be the same way. ❤
thankyou so much for touching on your emetophobia, i’ve has the phobia for as long as i can remember but more recently it has gotten so bad that i can’t leave the house. hearing a youtuber that i have looked up too since i was 8 chat about it and make it feel normalised is so comforting. thankyou i don’t feel as alone with it anymore💖
Zoe, you’ve probably heard this a million times and that’s because it’s the truth! You are genuinely the most comforting person to watch, I’ve grew up with you and you’ve stayed so true to yourself! I’m genuinely so happy for you and your little family!! :)🥰
A whole month to come? Yay! I’m a recent subscriber - don’t know where I’ve been all these years, but I’ve discovered your channel now and am loving it. Thanks for the effort you put into your content, it’s lovely to watch and inspiring to see mental health and parenting talked about with such openness and honesty ❤
Proud of you Zoe! You're an incredible mother and you work hard to be the best you can. I admire you a lot as I watched you live the ages that I am now experiencing myself.
In the nice weather, I love a backyard pool day with corn hole and ultimate frisbee! The kids can join or they can play hopscotch and draw with chalk. Those are some core family memories for me.
Zoe, I’m so proud of you for making it through that week! I struggle to clean up my cats’ vomit- the only reason I can is because I know I won’t catch anything that will make me sick 🙈 it’s honestly so comforting hearing other people’s experiences so us emetophobes know we aren’t alone 💜
If you get a therapist that doesn’t quite fit with you, move on to another, and if needed another, and another. I just got a therapist that I love and it makes a world of difference! ❤️
im so grateful for your mental health chats and acknowledging how different our brains are, and that different is okay and actually quite cool! makes us all feel very very seen and accepted :)
We have the exact same situation with our emetophobia and thankfully my husband is also not phased by it but having a 4 & 6 year old unfortunately they’re unavoidable entering the house. My mind still goes crazy with worry that I’ll get it but the thing that I have found helps a bit is wearing a mask the ones we wore in Covid times and wearing gloves in the dreaded clean up. I even wear a mask when giving them cuddles and just reassuring them and I have said to them mummy wears one so that I don’t catch it so I can look after them. Hope it helps but I do completely get it. Xx
Fellow emetophobic here that is also a mom and also married to someone who is the absolute polar opposite. It is SO comforting and reassuring to see someone speaking so openly about how absolutely overwhelming and irrational this phobia is! The visualization of every bad encounter with V* was so spot on lol
I've been watching since I was 14 and I'm now almost 25 😭. Watching your videos has helped me tremendously throughout really tough times in my life. I've suffered from severe depression and anxiety and watching your videos was always an escape for me 🩷. I would love love LOVE a month of vlogs if time permits it lol. Please never stop vlogging, we all love you and anything you post.
I completely agree with the visuals of the sick. I have extreme emet and I’m in therapy for it too. The visuals are awful and often play at night. Everything you said I can relate to. It’s nice to know I’m not alone. This is so nice to hear you speak on. I’m 22 and I constantly fear about having kids and I want them so bad in the future but I’m too scared to do it. You’re SO brave and SO strong. Been watching since 2013 era and have always admired you for talking on this
I have never ever related to anything more, I told my therapist it’s like I have a video collage or a pic collage in my head of every time I’ve ever been or seen someone else be sick and I can’t get it out (also have OCD lol) but it’s literally the worst thing ever. I’m pregnant myself about to be a first time mum and I was so scared about sickness which I didn’t get but now I’m so scared about getting sick during labour lol or my little one getting sick too 😢 thank you for talking about these things! Also so happy to have almost an hour long vlog!
It was so extremely refreshing watching you talk about your phobia so openly, and it made me feel not so alone… working on a diagnosis for my phobias currently, but I’m willing to bet mine may teeter on the edge of germaphobia all together- everything gets “contaminated” to me, especially when it relates to any sort of body fluid. And I relate to the scabbed knuckles- and have always had such bad anxiety around having children for this very reason- so thank you for talking so openly about your experiences
I’m an emetophobic mother of a toddler who gets carsick very often and I was shocked at how little her vomit bothers me! She even got sick on the way to the grocery store the other day and I wiped her down, made sure she was good, and we went ahead and did our grocery shop!
I’ve always had a toy basket in my bedroom, so that when I want to get dressed and put some makeup on my toddler goes straight for his/her toy basket. So far it’s worked for me. In fact sometimes I am ready and pulling them away from the basket to go !.
Omg You Choose!! Actually brought a tear to my eye because I had buried a lot of my memories away but I loved that book so much growing up. Not sure if it was school that had it or if my mum bought me it but I remember reading it over and over again. Definitely sparked a love for creativity which now extends into being a Sims player. I don’t know when I’ll become a mummy but I will be sure to find that book for my babies💗 Thank you for putting a smile on my face Zoë xx
Always such a gift to see a Zoe blog pop up 😊I try and watch them in little bits to soak in all the loveliness. Also, I too am an emitaphobe, it's been an issue my whole life. But one blessing that came of it is that it made me realize in my 20s that I had an issue with alcohol. November will mark 10 years of sobriety for me. Still have the phobia, but at least one good thing came of it! Thank you for being so honest. Sending all the love to your precious family 💖
I follow you since I was in high school, and I’ve grown up watching your videos. I’m usually a silent watcher, but I popped here just to tell you how happy I am for you. You look very happy and you deserve it. Lots of love x
Fellow Emetophobia sufferer here and also fellow BetterHelp user. I’m currently talking to my therapist about my phobia surrounding sickness, I’ve had it for as long as I can remember. Luckily my boyfriend is so understanding about it and supportive as well. Whenever we watch programmes that he knows involves the sounds/someone being sick he covers my ear and I cover my eyes And yes any encounter I’ve had with sick I can visualise it and picture it. I’ll avoid an area that someone’s been sick in for as long as I can, I’ll overcook food etc
Our daughter is just two weeks behind Novie. I totally feel what you mean. I don't even know how to just be me anymore. I feel like that person I was before she was born is gone. That phase of my life has passed and now this is the new normal...whatever that is. Feels good to know I'm not the only one struggling.
Hi Zoe! Mum of 3 little girls all under 5 here. My youngest two are the same age as your girls. Just want to say that getting ready is a struggle and I definitely pick my battles on whether a certain outing is worth the effort. But when I do I try to get the older 2 involved in my procedure as I’m often alone with the kids. But in saying that, this time is short and eventually Novie and Ottie will play together and entertain themselves. You’re doing amazing and try not to over think it. Just take each day as it comes. My eldest goes to kindergarten next year and I just am trying so hard to soak in this time period. Sending love from Sydney ❤
FTM of a 6 week old and finding your vlogs even more relatable than ever! Your vlogs make me so excited for my family to grow and to also experience all the ups and downs of parenthood. I’ve felt a complete identity crisis during this postpartum stage but you remind me that it will all work out in the end
I found those You Choose books SO good during potty training. To keep her sitting on the toilet for longer we would read that and you can make up endless stories x
Hi Zoe.I too have emetophobia and I have countless therapy over years and result my hands are damaged so when you spoke about this which you have before what you were saying I totally relate but well done and be proud of yourself it's hard when there poorly and alfie my husband use to do all that.Thank you for being so open its unreal how many people have it x
Preparation. High maintenance to be low maintenance, such as overnight curls, tint eyebrows, invisilash lashes, band a 5min makeup routine DOWN. Takes me 10 min to get fully ready 😅
What a wonderful surprise! Love your vlogs always & 53 minutes is incredible! Forever brings me joy to see a new vlog from you, they bring such a unique comfort and warmth & for that I am grateful! You have such a wonderful way of vlogging & I find every vlog engaging and entertaining! You’re truly one of a kind & it has been an honour to watch you for all these years!! You’re doing an incredible job, I am proud of you and sending all the love ⭐️❤️
It’s so helpful that you speak about your phobia. I have it to, and sometimes is so bad that I’m afraid to do my job as a teacher. My phobia is especially focust on other people being sick. Therapy didn’t help me and I am so scared to do exposure therapy. I have the biggest dream to be a mother, but it’s this kind of stories of kids getting sick, kinda scares me. I hope that someday I will be better in being coping with this anxiety and phobia..
Summer, don’t worry about it not being in the UK. I live in Portugal and in my area it’s also not summer yet. It’s only around 20-22 degrees. This time normally it’s much warmer
This video dropped at just the right time. I'm going through little low period and your videos have been my comfort since like 2010. Very much appreciative of you still taking the time to vlog. 💛
You’re the absolute best Zoe, you feel like family. Love listening talk I could honestly listen to you chat all day long. Talking with you would be like talking to a childhood bestie ❤
Hiii Zoe! I also have emetophobia and listening to your experience makes me feel so supported. I have always felt so misunderstood with this phobia that I have come to think that I am crazy and that I am the only person in the world who has it. These last few months it has also been a topic that is in my head 24/7, every day it is something I think about, and it has been very difficult because it has led me to have many anxiety issues. I have reached the point of not wanting to leave my house for fear of seeing someone sick on the street, not wanting to eat things that could make me sick, constantly feeling nauseous due to pure anxiety and that makes me feel even more anxious. Thank you very much for being so open with the topic and with your experience! It makes me feel better to know that I am not alone in this and I want you to know that you are not alone either, there are many of us who live with this and who fight every day to overcome it.
Zoe, since Ottie was a baby I always loved to see how you guys do bed time routine. You talked about her starting to love books and its noticible how you guys always encouraged her reading and storytelling (like when you guys ask her to talk about her day or like in todays vlog). Could you guys talk through the routine and how you adapted through her growing? You guys do such a good job and the effect on her is so clear! Congratulations! All the love, xx! Kisses from Brazil! (sorry about the english)
Loved this chatty vlog - you were the first person to put a "name" to my phobia and finding someone who I related to was life changing. Thank you for sharing your experience, even though it was difficult. So excited for (potential) summer vlogs!!!
Hi beautiful Zoe, I used to have it since I could remember. I’m 37 now and on the last 5 years it slowly started to go away, just like that. Now I can say that is gone. I hope yours gets better with age like it happened to me. 😘
You make me feel seen with the comments about being a mom of 2 and getting ready! I have two boys and they are the same ages as your littles! I live in Utah and moms get full glam kind of ready here with multiple kids and I always feel like … HOW!! So thank you!
I'm on baby #4 and honestly, it's easier than when I just had 1 or 2. Your children entertain each other, the way you parent changes, your younger kids are usually more easy going and independent and most importantly, your capacity grows! You can just handle more. That's just from my experience
As much as Im not into parenting myself its a different way of watching Zoe and Alfie. I started since 2012 (19 years old) to now 2024 (31 years Old.) Its been so long its like watching a very long telenovela in a good way 😅 love you lots Zoe! Greetings ❤
Zoe, you’ve probably heard this a million times and that’s because it’s the truth! You are genuinely the most comforting person to watch, I’ve grew up with you and you’ve stayed so true to yourself! I’m genuinely so happy for you and your little family!! :)
I don't think i know someone in my life with this same phobia as me, and how you described yours is so relatable Its such a debilitating phobia, i personally cant talk about it too much, cant be around people who are ill, the littlest things even words relating to it,just trigger the hell out of me, its not a nice phobia but its nice to read and know we're not alone
Winter break for my daughters (12 & 9) has all of us playing video games, making slime, exploring polymer clay & doing family portraits too! ❤ This has to have been the BEST vlog to date, thank you for sharing Zoe x
I also have emetaphobia, I also over cook all my food, check all the dates of things to make sure there's no way I can be sick. I also have medical issues where I feel nauseous all the time and it's unexplainable so my phobia hits hard every single day. It's nice to see others here in the comments and also listening to you talk about it. I appreciate you always talking about the things that don't always get talked about with others. I can remember everytime I've been sick and also when others have been sick and it's also so engraved in my head. I hope to get better at dealing with it. Thank you again for talking about it! 🫶
I will forever love the backyard swimming pool vlogs, from setup to take down. To finally having the perfect day with nice weather for throwing a pool party. There’s just something so comforting about those. Alternatively setting up some kind of crazy, slip and slide, padding pool, obstacle course around the backyard. Then having people over and getting everyone to race including Ottie. That would be so fun too. 😂🤷♀️😂❤️
Mum of 3 young children aged: 5, 3 and 1. The only way I manage to get fully ready for the day is to have a shower the night before and dry my hair and put it into a heatless curling sleep thing. And then do makeup in the morning during breakfast time or snack time when they’re all distracted with something. Morning and night time routine definitely get easy the older they get. 3 and 5 yr old hasn’t changed much for a year. 1 yr old changes depending on developmental changes but generally because the other 2 are in a good routine they sort of naturally fall into their routine too. It gets easier but I definitely miss the baby stage so much! ❤
i don't have emetophobia but i did have ornitophobia, which is fear of birds, and in the city i live there are pigeons everywhere so it was really hard to even go on a walk around. i ended up doing exposure terapy which made me get better but i totally relate to all the feelings you're describing and i'm really glad to hear you being so open about it.
Thank you so much for your talk on emetophobia. I 100% relate to overcooking food and checking expiration dates. I won’t even eat anything my friends/family cook unless I see their ingredients, and I bring a meat thermometer if I do eat it. I wont let any friends in my car if they’re drunk. If they are drunk I will buy them food so they have something in their stomach because I anticipate them being sick. I also remember every movie that I’ve seen that has a sick scene in it. Absolutely terrifying.
Had to comment as listening to you speak about Emet is like listening to my own thoughts! You are not alone and it’s such a frustrating phobia. Like you my husband is not remotely phased by it which is such a blessing, especially when my 2 yo had a sickness bug a couple of months ago and I was on my own with him at work. I felt horrendous at the fact I should be attending to my little ones and I was terrified to be in a room with them. Mine stems from family trips, my dad has always had an obsession with travel time and beating the last journey. So no stopping, no matter what. This meant I was often ill on journeys, so think I associate it with that, like a feeling of being out of control and trapped. My husband drives but we take lots of stops and is so good about it. But he has his phobias too that I step straight in to help with no hesitation. I think it helps him understand why I feel the way I do, you can’t help it or just have that unresolved trauma. It also creates habits and funny things, like I always have gum to hand or like you say basically can’t cook meat without charring. Again until you see someone mention these things you think you’re on your own, so thank you for talking about this. I really hope you feel less anxious soon, it’s a funny time when they’re 6 months and you’re getting your groove back. Just wanted to say you’re doing great x
Hi Zoe! I love how you are yourself in your videos, it is so refreshing. You are a role model to me and have had a huge impact on my life, from overcoming anxiety to being myself. I am only 21 but we are so similar and I feel like we would be great friends if we met!
I have 4 kidos (8, 5, 2 & 8months) and game changer is keeping a make up bag in the bread bin (kitchen) so you can get ready while they’re having breakfast Shower hair wash the night before Clothes set out for the next day Pack the car the day before It gets easier when they start school as you have a time to be out the door for xXx
"If it's that brutal you should take a tablet mate" TOOK ME OUT 🤣
watching you brush your daughters hair.... brought tears to my eyes. you were meant to be a mom. we knew this for yearss
53 MINUTES????? A QUEEN!!! Favorite UA-camr ever til the end of time also your family is the CUTEST family 😭 goals.
I don’t think any of us would ever ask you to stop vlogging you are the OG we love you!!! These vlogs make my day and I always look forward to them❤️
Since you associate memories with scent, here's a cool idea that I saw recently - where you and your partner pick out a scent each that you're going to wear on your wedding day so you can forever associate that scent with the memories on your wedding day!
"You choose" was my favourite book EVER!! Just unlocked a memory
I haven't got to the phobia chat bit yet, but I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your openness about emetophobia! I think you were the first person I'd ever seen who has it and understands. It made me feel validated when I was 14 and now when I'm 24 ❤ Thank you Zoe!
A MONTH of vlogs on the cards 🎉
Not Alfie picking up the camera 48:25 to say that! That whole part about the tablet, my eyes were streaming!
Fellow science nerd and physician assistant here, our olfactory nerve (how we smell) is the only cranial nerve that goes directly into our cortex so our brain has a very strong and instinctive association between smell and memory :) Whereas our other special senses go through the thalamus first to be processed. The human body is amazing and I genuinely love learning about it, and I don't think you need to wait til the next lifetime to be amazed by it!
"I'm in the thick of it, and I don't know either" is such a simple yet comforting phrase!! Our babies are 2 weeks apart, and most days I don't know either :)
Zoe, I’m a silent watcher but I just had to say I love love LOVE when you talk all things emetaphobia, I have it too and I don’t know anyone in my personal life who has it and you were the first person who spoke about it where I had that moment of, omg I’m not crazy someone else thinks this too. When you describe the different things like the dates on everything, over cooking everything I’m just shouting yes yes YES at the tv because I feel that to my bones!! Thankyou for making me feel like I’m not crazy💓 I also started seeing a therapist because of you and I’m only a couple months in but it’s already changed my life and I would never have take that leap if it wasn’t for you ❤❤❤
i dont have emetophobia but i do have health anxiety and omg its so consuming and frustrating. I have developed agoraphobia (fear of leaving the house) because of this. i'm slowly but surely starting to combat it but it's a work in progress. i'm currently working with a therapist from betterhelp and she is amazing fr. thank u for always being so open about mental health!! i love u sm zoe, we can get through this
I’ve struggled with emetophobia since I can remember too! I loved your chat about it as I can relate so much. I think about it multiple times a day and also have vivid memories of people being sick or myself. You’ve reassured me that it’s possible to have children and a family with this phobia.❤
Never give up the vlogging! 💓✨ no one does it like you and Alf!
also same here!! I can remember every time sick has been around me or I've been sick and it's made me scared or any panic attack about it
I remember being like 14 wondering what was wrong with me and why no one else struggled with sickness like me!!!! Low and behold here we all are years later talking about it. I love that we’re all talking about it now. I also did the Thrive Programme for anyone struggling it’s amazing ❤
I've been having anxiety forever, and you were the first person I'd ever heard talking about it openly. And that was before I even had a word for what I was experiencing. Nobody talked about mental health back then (lol we're old). I've been watching your videos ever since !
It helps SO MUCH when you understand your brain is doing exactly the same thing as a lot of other people's brain 😅
Thank you
❤🩹
FTM of a 9 Month Old - I was so unprepared for how much I would lose myself in the postpartum phase. Now that we are at the 9 month mark I feel like I'm just starting to get my head above water. I want more children but am low-key nervous for the initial postpartum phase again.
The emetophobia chat really made me feel reassured. The pavement scanning! Remembering every single experience. It's so sad that this affects so many of us, but after hearing people tell me I'm just being silly and it's not a fear, it's so nice to hear other people go through exactly the same experiences and all the daily routines we do to prevent being ill
Thank you so much for including the phobia chat section. I have watched your videos for as long as I can remember and I have also had severe emetophobia for my whole life. You really are a true inspiration to me for so many reasons but especially seeing you become a mum has made me realise that that is also something i could potentially do in the future which is an idea i really struggle with due to my phobia. Thank you for being such a lovely, strong and inspiring woman💕
Listening to you echo all my thoughts and fears of emetophobia was, i have to say an absolute breath of fresh air. Im not at all happy that anyone else suffers from this debilitating phobia but it makes me feel so less alone. 💖
Bring back the good old summer vlogs, chilling in the garden with Mark, Poppy and Sean, having water fights, bbq and fun in the pool (and now, plus the giiirls)!! ❤
I literally never comment but I really struggle with emetaphobia and I appreciate you talking about it so so much. I’m so happy I’m not the only one
This video made me cry because I’ve always felt so alone with my emetophobia. I had a panic attack just the other day because I felt nauseous and thought I wouldn’t get through it. But it’s incredibly comforting that you’ve been able to manage having the same phobia and becoming a mother. There have been so many times that I’ve doubted I could ever be a mom and at almost 28, it still scares me. But I’ve honestly looked up to you for so long and just knowing that you’ve done it makes me feel like maybe it’s possible. Thank you soooo much for this video.
Hang on .... Is another vlogust coming? 😀That would be a dream :D My favourite Zoe vlog would have to be a cozy day at home (and a car chat with Mark) 😉
1. Don't compare old Zoe to the Zoe you are now. Nobody ... Even your loved ones without kids... Aren't going to be bothered.
2. So many moms lose themselves. Having something (or more than one something) that is yours, that makes you happy as an INDIVIDUAL not a MOM, is so important. This stage will be gone before you know it and when the girls start school, having your "me things" will help you go into their new stages stronger. Luckily, you have so many amazing talents, so many things that you can focus your energy on, that you'll not only be happy and mentally healthy, but your daughters will learn how to be the same way. ❤
STOP IT!!!!!!! the outro made me so happy you don’t even understand!!!!! I can’t wait😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
thankyou so much for touching on your emetophobia, i’ve has the phobia for as long as i can remember but more recently it has gotten so bad that i can’t leave the house. hearing a youtuber that i have looked up too since i was 8 chat about it and make it feel normalised is so comforting. thankyou i don’t feel as alone with it anymore💖
Zoe, you’ve probably heard this a million times and that’s because it’s the truth! You are genuinely the most comforting person to watch, I’ve grew up with you and you’ve stayed so true to yourself! I’m genuinely so happy for you and your little family!! :)🥰
A whole month to come? Yay! I’m a recent subscriber - don’t know where I’ve been all these years, but I’ve discovered your channel now and am loving it. Thanks for the effort you put into your content, it’s lovely to watch and inspiring to see mental health and parenting talked about with such openness and honesty ❤
Proud of you Zoe! You're an incredible mother and you work hard to be the best you can. I admire you a lot as I watched you live the ages that I am now experiencing myself.
Perfect way to spend a Sunday evening 😊🫶
In the nice weather, I love a backyard pool day with corn hole and ultimate frisbee! The kids can join or they can play hopscotch and draw with chalk. Those are some core family memories for me.
53 minutes of a Zoe vlog is what l need ❤️❤️
Zoe, I’m so proud of you for making it through that week! I struggle to clean up my cats’ vomit- the only reason I can is because I know I won’t catch anything that will make me sick 🙈 it’s honestly so comforting hearing other people’s experiences so us emetophobes know we aren’t alone 💜
Perfect thing to have on while I fold the laundry and potter around on this Sunday evening! Your family is so sweet 💛
I have emetophobia, having a phobia is such hard work and soul destroying ❤️if you ever need to talk im here xxxx
If you get a therapist that doesn’t quite fit with you, move on to another, and if needed another, and another. I just got a therapist that I love and it makes a world of difference! ❤️
im so grateful for your mental health chats and acknowledging how different our brains are, and that different is okay and actually quite cool! makes us all feel very very seen and accepted :)
We have the exact same situation with our emetophobia and thankfully my husband is also not phased by it but having a 4 & 6 year old unfortunately they’re unavoidable entering the house.
My mind still goes crazy with worry that I’ll get it but the thing that I have found helps a bit is wearing a mask the ones we wore in Covid times and wearing gloves in the dreaded clean up. I even wear a mask when giving them cuddles and just reassuring them and I have said to them mummy wears one so that I don’t catch it so I can look after them. Hope it helps but I do completely get it. Xx
Fellow emetophobic here that is also a mom and also married to someone who is the absolute polar opposite. It is SO comforting and reassuring to see someone speaking so openly about how absolutely overwhelming and irrational this phobia is! The visualization of every bad encounter with V* was so spot on lol
I've been watching since I was 14 and I'm now almost 25 😭. Watching your videos has helped me tremendously throughout really tough times in my life. I've suffered from severe depression and anxiety and watching your videos was always an escape for me 🩷. I would love love LOVE a month of vlogs if time permits it lol. Please never stop vlogging, we all love you and anything you post.
you're such a beautiful mother in every way, thank you for sharing all of these moments with us
I completely agree with the visuals of the sick. I have extreme emet and I’m in therapy for it too. The visuals are awful and often play at night. Everything you said I can relate to. It’s nice to know I’m not alone. This is so nice to hear you speak on. I’m 22 and I constantly fear about having kids and I want them so bad in the future but I’m too scared to do it. You’re SO brave and SO strong. Been watching since 2013 era and have always admired you for talking on this
I have never ever related to anything more, I told my therapist it’s like I have a video collage or a pic collage in my head of every time I’ve ever been or seen someone else be sick and I can’t get it out (also have OCD lol) but it’s literally the worst thing ever. I’m pregnant myself about to be a first time mum and I was so scared about sickness which I didn’t get but now I’m so scared about getting sick during labour lol or my little one getting sick too 😢 thank you for talking about these things! Also so happy to have almost an hour long vlog!
It was so extremely refreshing watching you talk about your phobia so openly, and it made me feel not so alone… working on a diagnosis for my phobias currently, but I’m willing to bet mine may teeter on the edge of germaphobia all together- everything gets “contaminated” to me, especially when it relates to any sort of body fluid. And I relate to the scabbed knuckles- and have always had such bad anxiety around having children for this very reason- so thank you for talking so openly about your experiences
Every word you said about your emetophobia, I could have said myself!! Too relatable!!
Honestly we’ve grown together, we really are friends in my head and you’ll always be my favorite people to watch on social media!
Okay bye
I’m an emetophobic mother of a toddler who gets carsick very often and I was shocked at how little her vomit bothers me! She even got sick on the way to the grocery store the other day and I wiped her down, made sure she was good, and we went ahead and did our grocery shop!
I’ve always had a toy basket in my bedroom, so that when I want to get dressed and put some makeup on my toddler goes straight for his/her toy basket. So far it’s worked for me. In fact sometimes I am ready and pulling them away from the basket to go !.
Omg You Choose!! Actually brought a tear to my eye because I had buried a lot of my memories away but I loved that book so much growing up. Not sure if it was school that had it or if my mum bought me it but I remember reading it over and over again. Definitely sparked a love for creativity which now extends into being a Sims player. I don’t know when I’ll become a mummy but I will be sure to find that book for my babies💗 Thank you for putting a smile on my face Zoë xx
seeing you guys play in the garden and then reading books all together ❤ such a lovely beautiful family
Always such a gift to see a Zoe blog pop up 😊I try and watch them in little bits to soak in all the loveliness. Also, I too am an emitaphobe, it's been an issue my whole life. But one blessing that came of it is that it made me realize in my 20s that I had an issue with alcohol. November will mark 10 years of sobriety for me. Still have the phobia, but at least one good thing came of it! Thank you for being so honest. Sending all the love to your precious family 💖
I follow you since I was in high school, and I’ve grown up watching your videos. I’m usually a silent watcher, but I popped here just to tell you how happy I am for you.
You look very happy and you deserve it.
Lots of love x
I really like having a little 'catch up' too 😊😊
Zoe truely has been there for all us in one way or another throughout the years ❤
Fellow Emetophobia sufferer here and also fellow BetterHelp user. I’m currently talking to my therapist about my phobia surrounding sickness, I’ve had it for as long as I can remember. Luckily my boyfriend is so understanding about it and supportive as well. Whenever we watch programmes that he knows involves the sounds/someone being sick he covers my ear and I cover my eyes
And yes any encounter I’ve had with sick I can visualise it and picture it. I’ll avoid an area that someone’s been sick in for as long as I can, I’ll overcook food etc
Our daughter is just two weeks behind Novie. I totally feel what you mean. I don't even know how to just be me anymore. I feel like that person I was before she was born is gone. That phase of my life has passed and now this is the new normal...whatever that is. Feels good to know I'm not the only one struggling.
Just what I need this Sunday evening ❤ Can’t wait to watch whilst doing the washing 😂 Lots of love to the whole fam 🫶🏻
Hi Zoe! Mum of 3 little girls all under 5 here. My youngest two are the same age as your girls. Just want to say that getting ready is a struggle and I definitely pick my battles on whether a certain outing is worth the effort. But when I do I try to get the older 2 involved in my procedure as I’m often alone with the kids. But in saying that, this time is short and eventually Novie and Ottie will play together and entertain themselves. You’re doing amazing and try not to over think it. Just take each day as it comes. My eldest goes to kindergarten next year and I just am trying so hard to soak in this time period. Sending love from Sydney ❤
FTM of a 6 week old and finding your vlogs even more relatable than ever! Your vlogs make me so excited for my family to grow and to also experience all the ups and downs of parenthood. I’ve felt a complete identity crisis during this postpartum stage but you remind me that it will all work out in the end
I found those You Choose books SO good during potty training. To keep her sitting on the toilet for longer we would read that and you can make up endless stories x
Hi Zoe.I too have emetophobia and I have countless therapy over years and result my hands are damaged so when you spoke about this which you have before what you were saying I totally relate but well done and be proud of yourself it's hard when there poorly and alfie my husband use to do all that.Thank you for being so open its unreal how many people have it x
Preparation. High maintenance to be low maintenance, such as overnight curls, tint eyebrows, invisilash lashes, band a 5min makeup routine DOWN. Takes me 10 min to get fully ready 😅
What a wonderful surprise! Love your vlogs always & 53 minutes is incredible! Forever brings me joy to see a new vlog from you, they bring such a unique comfort and warmth & for that I am grateful! You have such a wonderful way of vlogging & I find every vlog engaging and entertaining! You’re truly one of a kind & it has been an honour to watch you for all these years!! You’re doing an incredible job, I am proud of you and sending all the love ⭐️❤️
It’s so helpful that you speak about your phobia. I have it to, and sometimes is so bad that I’m afraid to do my job as a teacher. My phobia is especially focust on other people being sick. Therapy didn’t help me and I am so scared to do exposure therapy. I have the biggest dream to be a mother, but it’s this kind of stories of kids getting sick, kinda scares me.
I hope that someday I will be better in being coping with this anxiety and phobia..
Summer, don’t worry about it not being in the UK. I live in Portugal and in my area it’s also not summer yet. It’s only around 20-22 degrees. This time normally it’s much warmer
This video dropped at just the right time. I'm going through little low period and your videos have been my comfort since like 2010. Very much appreciative of you still taking the time to vlog. 💛
You’re the absolute best Zoe, you feel like family. Love listening talk I could honestly listen to you chat all day long. Talking with you would be like talking to a childhood bestie ❤
Hiii Zoe! I also have emetophobia and listening to your experience makes me feel so supported. I have always felt so misunderstood with this phobia that I have come to think that I am crazy and that I am the only person in the world who has it.
These last few months it has also been a topic that is in my head 24/7, every day it is something I think about, and it has been very difficult because it has led me to have many anxiety issues.
I have reached the point of not wanting to leave my house for fear of seeing someone sick on the street, not wanting to eat things that could make me sick, constantly feeling nauseous due to pure anxiety and that makes me feel even more anxious.
Thank you very much for being so open with the topic and with your experience! It makes me feel better to know that I am not alone in this and I want you to know that you are not alone either, there are many of us who live with this and who fight every day to overcome it.
Zoe, since Ottie was a baby I always loved to see how you guys do bed time routine. You talked about her starting to love books and its noticible how you guys always encouraged her reading and storytelling (like when you guys ask her to talk about her day or like in todays vlog). Could you guys talk through the routine and how you adapted through her growing? You guys do such a good job and the effect on her is so clear! Congratulations! All the love, xx! Kisses from Brazil!
(sorry about the english)
Watching you play with Ottie and Alfie in the garden was so wholesome 🫶🏼
We love long Zoe vlogs! I can’t get over how big Novie is getting they really do grow so fast!
Loved this chatty vlog - you were the first person to put a "name" to my phobia and finding someone who I related to was life changing. Thank you for sharing your experience, even though it was difficult. So excited for (potential) summer vlogs!!!
Hi beautiful Zoe, I used to have it since I could remember. I’m 37 now and on the last 5 years it slowly started to go away, just like that. Now I can say that is gone. I hope yours gets better with age like it happened to me. 😘
You make me feel seen with the comments about being a mom of 2 and getting ready! I have two boys and they are the same ages as your littles! I live in Utah and moms get full glam kind of ready here with multiple kids and I always feel like … HOW!! So thank you!
Some random thoughts:
- How crazy to see growing up someone who i Grew up with
- Ottie is getting so tall!!!
- You are such a "comfy" person for me :)
I’m just so grateful that Zoe and Alfie still upload it’s like hanging out with an old friend! Thank you for this amazing vlog Zoe 💕💕
Literally did a happy dance when I saw Zoe posted 😄💃
I'm on baby #4 and honestly, it's easier than when I just had 1 or 2. Your children entertain each other, the way you parent changes, your younger kids are usually more easy going and independent and most importantly, your capacity grows! You can just handle more. That's just from my experience
Happy Sunday guys! Love a new vlog from Zoe to brighten up everyone’s Sunday afternoon ❤
As much as Im not into parenting myself its a different way of watching Zoe and Alfie. I started since 2012 (19 years old) to now 2024 (31 years Old.) Its been so long its like watching a very long telenovela in a good way 😅 love you lots Zoe! Greetings ❤
Zoe, you’ve probably heard this a million times and that’s because it’s the truth! You are genuinely the most comforting person to watch, I’ve grew up with you and you’ve stayed so true to yourself! I’m genuinely so happy for you and your little family!! :)
I don't think i know someone in my life with this same phobia as me, and how you described yours is so relatable
Its such a debilitating phobia, i personally cant talk about it too much, cant be around people who are ill, the littlest things even words relating to it,just trigger the hell out of me, its not a nice phobia but its nice to read and know we're not alone
Winter break for my daughters (12 & 9) has all of us playing video games, making slime, exploring polymer clay & doing family portraits too! ❤
This has to have been the BEST vlog to date, thank you for sharing Zoe x
I also have emetaphobia, I also over cook all my food, check all the dates of things to make sure there's no way I can be sick. I also have medical issues where I feel nauseous all the time and it's unexplainable so my phobia hits hard every single day. It's nice to see others here in the comments and also listening to you talk about it. I appreciate you always talking about the things that don't always get talked about with others. I can remember everytime I've been sick and also when others have been sick and it's also so engraved in my head. I hope to get better at dealing with it. Thank you again for talking about it! 🫶
I will forever love the backyard swimming pool vlogs, from setup to take down. To finally having the perfect day with nice weather for throwing a pool party. There’s just something so comforting about those.
Alternatively setting up some kind of crazy, slip and slide, padding pool, obstacle course around the backyard. Then having people over and getting everyone to race including Ottie. That would be so fun too. 😂🤷♀️😂❤️
I’d love to know more about your birth experiences- expectations vs. reality, body recovery etc…
Mum of 3 young children aged: 5, 3 and 1. The only way I manage to get fully ready for the day is to have a shower the night before and dry my hair and put it into a heatless curling sleep thing. And then do makeup in the morning during breakfast time or snack time when they’re all distracted with something.
Morning and night time routine definitely get easy the older they get. 3 and 5 yr old hasn’t changed much for a year. 1 yr old changes depending on developmental changes but generally because the other 2 are in a good routine they sort of naturally fall into their routine too. It gets easier but I definitely miss the baby stage so much! ❤
i don't have emetophobia but i did have ornitophobia, which is fear of birds, and in the city i live there are pigeons everywhere so it was really hard to even go on a walk around. i ended up doing exposure terapy which made me get better but i totally relate to all the feelings you're describing and i'm really glad to hear you being so open about it.
Thank you so much for your talk on emetophobia. I 100% relate to overcooking food and checking expiration dates. I won’t even eat anything my friends/family cook unless I see their ingredients, and I bring a meat thermometer if I do eat it. I wont let any friends in my car if they’re drunk. If they are drunk I will buy them food so they have something in their stomach because I anticipate them being sick. I also remember every movie that I’ve seen that has a sick scene in it. Absolutely terrifying.
Never seen anyone else use a FOREO but it legit change my skin and texture!! Love you and your family videos ❤
Had to comment as listening to you speak about Emet is like listening to my own thoughts! You are not alone and it’s such a frustrating phobia. Like you my husband is not remotely phased by it which is such a blessing, especially when my 2 yo had a sickness bug a couple of months ago and I was on my own with him at work. I felt horrendous at the fact I should be attending to my little ones and I was terrified to be in a room with them.
Mine stems from family trips, my dad has always had an obsession with travel time and beating the last journey. So no stopping, no matter what. This meant I was often ill on journeys, so think I associate it with that, like a feeling of being out of control and trapped.
My husband drives but we take lots of stops and is so good about it. But he has his phobias too that I step straight in to help with no hesitation. I think it helps him understand why I feel the way I do, you can’t help it or just have that unresolved trauma.
It also creates habits and funny things, like I always have gum to hand or like you say basically can’t cook meat without charring. Again until you see someone mention these things you think you’re on your own, so thank you for talking about this.
I really hope you feel less anxious soon, it’s a funny time when they’re 6 months and you’re getting your groove back. Just wanted to say you’re doing great x
Hi Zoe! I love how you are yourself in your videos, it is so refreshing. You are a role model to me and have had a huge impact on my life, from overcoming anxiety to being myself. I am only 21 but we are so similar and I feel like we would be great friends if we met!
always an instantly better day when zoe and alfie both post!! 💘💘
I had emetophobia until I had cancer as a teenager... nothing could ever make you get over a fear more than being sick everyday for 2.5 hours...
Vlogust again??? YES PLEASEEEE! 💕 Can't get enough of your vlogs, Zoe 💖
I have 4 kidos (8, 5, 2 & 8months) and game changer is keeping a make up bag in the bread bin (kitchen) so you can get ready while they’re having breakfast
Shower hair wash the night before
Clothes set out for the next day
Pack the car the day before
It gets easier when they start school as you have a time to be out the door for xXx
I can’t believe we’ve had the privilege to watch you grow from 2012 Zoe to 2024 Zoe with her own family, engaged to her life long partner🥰