A mom is facing backlash online after posting a video of her sick toddler on the driveway, explaining that he wasn’t allowed inside the house because of his stomach virus – since she suffers from emetophobia.
For those who have never heard the term emetophobia, it is an extreme fear of vomiting. Most people don’t enjoy throwing up – or smelling, seeing, or hearing others do it. But for those who suffer from emetophobia, the fear goes much deeper.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, emetophobia is classified as a “specific phobia” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is a mental health condition that can leave people “constantly worried about vomiting.”
What is emetophobia?
The Cleveland Clinic explains that the fear can “take over your thoughts” and “impact your life beyond just feeling afraid.” It can prevent people from relaxing, participating in social activities, or even eating.
Emetophobia can be especially challenging for parents of young children, who are unable to fully take care of themselves when sick, don’t have the same level of control as adults, and can’t clean up after themselves. Now, one mom is facing major backlash online over how she chose to handle her toddler’s illness.
Posted a video of her son sleeping on the driveway
Ashley, who posts on TikTok under the name @the_accidental_adult, shared a video showing her toddler sleeping on the driveway next to his dad while recovering from a stomach virus.
“POV: you have emetophobia, so your toddler’s stomach virus gets moved to the driveway,” she captioned the video, adding: “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
The TikTok quickly went viral, racking up millions of views, with many users criticizing the situation in the comments.
“As someone with raging emetophobia, this is insane,” one commenter wrote, according to Bored Panda. “Your kid should be in his own room in his own bed. I’d be the one outside if I really couldn’t deal with it.”
“What kind of selfish BS is this?” another person asked, while a third wrote: “I can’t imagine being sick with a stomach virus and having to go outside and lay on the pavement.”
A fourth viewer added: “I couldn’t imagine doing that to my kid. Especially not filming it after like it’s a cute quirk and not a complete failure as a parent.”
“You guys are acting like I threw my son in a dumpster”
After receiving a comment saying, “I have emetophobia too and I would never banish my child to the DRIVEWAY,” Ashley decided to respond and defend her actions in a follow-up video.
“Okay, so some of you parenting experts are acting like I banished my son to the driveway with a loaf of bread and no supervision,” Ashley said, according to Bored Panda.
“Number one: he wanted to go outside. I am a severe emetophobe, so hearing that from my stomach-bugged toddler was very welcome. I was so happy he wanted to go outside. Also, fresh air is amazing for you when you’re not feeling well.
“He also had unlimited iPad access, which was a once-in-a-lifetime treat for him. He had two loving parents catering to him the entire time. We did not leave his side.”
She also stressed that he came back inside once temperatures started rising outside, and that he is both loved and cared for.
“You guys are acting like I threw my son in a dumpster in a foreign place and ran away,” she said in a later video.
“I have emetophobia, and it can be pretty debilitating at times, so I made the best decision as a parent in that moment because I didn’t want my reaction to scare him.”
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