Bar Zomer Opens Up About Motherhood Challenges and Daughter's Health
Bar Zomer opens up about the immense challenges of motherhood, her daughter's medical diagnosis, and returning to work after a difficult period.
Bar Zomer is not trying to present motherhood as an easy ride. Ever since she became a mother of two, she has not hidden the challenges that come alongside the immense joy. Operating on an average of two hours of sleep, she is now returning to full-time work after a medical diagnosis for her baby daughter and a bout of shingles forced her to step back for a while.
In an interview with mako celebs on the set of a photoshoot for the fashion brand Itay Brandes, Zomer opens up about those complex months, the maternal intuition that led to diagnosing 10-month-old Ranny's condition, and breaking down in tears when discussing the toll it took on her eldest daughter, 3-year-old Mila.
Navigating Exhaustion and Maternal Intuition
When asked at what point one gets used to sleep deprivation, Zomer admits: "I've gotten used to it. I'm a sleep glutton. One day I'll do a sleep consultation, when I feel my little cub is ready for it. But not right now. I have hyper-sensitivity towards her. It's very hard for me to leave her, because of everything we've been through."
She previously shared the diagnosis of her baby girl. Ranny suffered from a cow's milk protein allergy, which was heavily complicated by silent reflux. The little girl simply cried all day, making it immensely hard to soothe her and her parents. "I knew something wasn't right, and I didn't stop going to doctors. I consulted with experts, and after a month, we discovered this was the diagnosis. There's nothing like maternal intuition."
This required major lifestyle changes, particularly regarding her diet. "That's right, I stopped consuming dairy and soy products for seven months. But everything is for her. Even breastfeeding started against my will, and now I'm just in love with it. Today, if you tell me to stop, I'll cry right here. But I really fought for her, I sacrificed myself for her, she's my daughter."
Stepping Back and Family Focus
Following Ranny's birth last November, Zomer was not as active on social media as followers were used to. Her absence sparked speculation and comments suspecting postpartum depression. However, Zomer clarifies that this was not the case, explaining that she chose to focus on what matters most to her: "I was in my own bubble, with my family. First and foremost, how do I make sure Ranny is okay, that Ranny stops suffering—that was all I cared about, I didn't deal with myself at all. Today I can tell you that of course it affected me, the whole house, and also my work. I put a lot of work on hold during this period. Nothing mattered to me except the girls."
When asked how one explains to tiny Mila that her sister needs attention, Zomer touches a raw nerve. Mila was two years and four months old when Ranny was born and has been through a lot. The mention of Mila's coping mechanism immediately overwhelmed Zomer, who could not hold back her tears: "She's a little cub dealing with a very complicated situation at home. All the focus went to Ranny, and there's no doubt Mila had to get focus too. Today we are dealing with the consequences of that."
"She's a little cub dealing with a very complicated situation at home. All the focus went to Ranny, and there's no doubt Mila had to get focus too. Today we are dealing with the consequences of that."
A Return to Full Speed
Despite the challenges, Zomer views motherhood as the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. "Being a young and active mother was my dream as a little girl. I'm a full-time mother. There are moments when you have to put your career aside, but there's no doubt you can combine it. I say thank you every day for what I have and also for what I don't have."
Now, Zomer has returned to a busy schedule. "Today I'm back to working at full volume, but there's no doubt family comes first for me, everyone knows that. Today I'm not taking my foot off the gas; I lowered it for a very long time and now I'm in turbo mode, it revives me."
She also addresses her friendship with Yarden Vizel, with whom she had a publicized fallout during the challenging period. "Yarden and I are still good friends," Zomer declares. "I love Yarden with all my soul, she's my sister, she was and always will be, and what's between me and her stays between me and her... I'm dealing with family, but Yarden is family."
