Phoebe Burgess opens up about being the ‘hero’ in her children’s lives following shock new career move

Phoebe Burgess opens up about the challenging and rewarding aspects of family life and motherhood as a single parent.

The former NRL WAG, who has two children with ex-husband Sam Burgess, admitted it’s “not always easy” being a single mother but she’s very grateful for her close support network.

Phoebe spoke exclusively to Ny Breaking Australia and shared what it’s like to be a ‘hero’ in the eyes of her two adorable children – Poppy, seven, and Billy, five – after revealing her surprise new career move this week.

The busy mum has released a new children’s book, Zach and Zoe’s Hide and Sneeze, which aims to raise awareness of childhood allergic rhinitis, a condition that affects millions of Australians aged four and over.

Working with hay fever and allergy brand Zyrtec, Phoebe was able to draw on her own experiences as a single mother of children diagnosed with hay fever allergies.

The book is about two young children and their mother, who turns into a superhero after solving their allergy symptoms during a game of hide-and-seek.

“I write the book and all I can describe is what I know and what our environment is at a given time,” Phoebe told Ny Breaking Australia.

“But the most important thing in our household is that I’m the one wearing the cape in the eyes of the kids right now, because there are three of us.”

The mother of two said goodbye to Sydney in early 2020 and moved away from the city. She now lives with her parents on their sprawling estate in the Southern Highlands.

Phoebe said it was one of the best decisions she ever made for her two children when it came to preserving their children’s innocence and freedom.

“I learned very early on that there is a trade-off. My kids love the space,” she said.

‘Billy has an electric bike and daddy just made a cool course for him in mommy’s riding arena… Poppy loves getting outside and being creative.’

The former TV producer revealed she would most likely be living in a small apartment in Sydney if they had decided to stay after her split from Sam in 2019.

It is an absolute privilege to [space] when your kids are young. I want them to be free and I want them to be wild. And the reality would be that we would probably be in an apartment if we came back to the city,” she added.

“I absorb the risk. I absorb the downside by driving back and forth to work. I’m lucky that my mom can pick up the kids from school if I’m stuck on the freeway or something.”

Phoebe continued: ‘I know it sounds crazy, but I would take them to Sydney and stay there for a while and it just wasn’t the same. They’re really happy with the freedom to run in and out.’

“It’s not always easy and it’s not perfect… I can’t give them everything I want, but that’s something I can give them.”

Phoebe then discussed her experiences with allergies in her son and daughter and emphasized the importance of parents being aware of their children’s health and seeking medical attention if necessary.

“I’ve always felt that if my children are even slightly uncomfortable, if they’re in pain or if they’re sneezing, as a mother you feel it too,” she told Ny Breaking Australia.

‘Living on our family property, Poppy and Billy are always running wild outside. I’ve seen them come in sneezing, with watery eyes or scratching an itchy rash.

“When you see your kids being uncomfortable, even if it’s something small, I felt like I wasn’t seeing something. I felt like maybe I wasn’t doing it right.

“But I went to my doctor and I got the information that I needed. And I think what I want the book to do is for parents to know that this book is for them, that hopefully your children can relate to the scenarios that we put in there.”

Phoebe was previously married to NRL star Sam Burgess for four years.

Sam and Phoebe married in 2015, split in late 2018, and renewed their relationship in early 2019, before finally splitting in October of that year.

After the famous couple split, their divorce was finalized in April 2020.

Sam, formerly of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, admitted to SAS Australia that he cheated on his wife with another woman in Melbourne in 2017.

He is now engaged to Leeds hairdresser Lucy Graham and the couple have a daughter together called Robbie.

The former Rabbitohs player proposed to Lucy in June 2023, just nine months after they went public with their relationship.

Phoebe’s book, Zach and Zoe’s Hide and Sneeze, is available for free at Chemist Warehouse, Terry White Chemmart and other participating independent pharmacies, from 1 September to 30 November 2024, or while stocks last.

It will also be available as a downloadable e-book at participating supermarkets.