In an interview with the Stellar podcast One thing To Discuss About, Dawn presenter and Witchery White Shirt Marketing campaign ambassador Edwina Bartholomew tells host and editor-in-chief Sarrah Le Marquand in regards to the dialog she ignited when she revealed that she and her husband dwell individually through the week, explains why she received’t be shamed into feeling unhealthy about her parenting decisions and divulges the contents of the textual content messages she will be able to’t assist sending in the midst of the evening.
You grew to become a Stellar columnist this yr, and your first official column – which was printed in March – obtained a large response. You’d already spoken about the way you
and your husband Neil sleep in separate bedrooms; this time, you revealed that
you reside in separate homes through the week. What was the response?
Nicely, right this moment [April 21] is definitely my [sixth] marriage ceremony anniversary, and I can verify we’re nonetheless married. It was a tremendous response. It’s simply one thing folks don’t discuss, however so many {couples} do. It completely went bananas, as a result of I believe it’s not “the executed factor”. So once you discuss what you’re doing in your relationship that simply works for you – and that’s it for us, for a lot of causes and on many ranges – I believe that resonates. I used to be simply being sincere, [which] is what I’ve tried to be in all aspects of my life, be it social media, TV and now in my writing.
Hearken to the total interview with Edwina on One thing To Discuss About beneath:
I do know folks reached out and thanked you for speaking about your state of affairs, saying issues like “I assumed it was simply us.” Clearly many people are more and more questioning so-called standard norms. We see it throughout the board, with folks speaking in regards to the troubles they could have had with breastfeeding or the actual fact their child doesn’t sleep or, on the opposite finish of the spectrum, speaking about menopause. We’re seeing plenty of sincere conversations on points that maybe have been by no means spoken about within the public area earlier than. And perhaps that’s as a result of we’re listening to extra feminine voices. Or perhaps it’s OK to be totally different and run your individual race. If something, what I’ve learnt from being a journalist for 20 years is you by no means know what’s happening in somebody’s life – how they cope with it, how they get by every day. I train that to my youngsters. If somebody is imply within the playground, I say, “Nicely, perhaps they’ve obtained one thing happening or they’re having a foul day, and that’s OK. Give them an opportunity the subsequent day.”
Your daughter, Molly, is now 4, and your son, Thomas, is 2. Right here at Stellar we attempt to not ask folks how they juggle all of it, particularly mums, as a result of even in 2024 there’s seemingly nonetheless an enormous legacy of “mom guilt” that follows each working mom.
You understand what? I simply don’t give a sh*t about mom’s guilt. Individuals ask me in regards to the juggle on a regular basis, and I simply say: I get so much from my work; I like my work. To be able to do what I do and supply for my household, sure, I’ve to work bizarre hours, journey a bit. I find yourself with plenty of time with them due to the hours I work, so I’m typically house by 10am or 11am and get the remainder of the day with them. I simply don’t purchase into [mother guilt]. I do know I’m elevating two wonderful youngsters as a result of they’re humorous, they’re pleasant, they’re well-mannered more often than not. They don’t all the time eat their greens, however we attempt. That entire guilt factor … it’s garbage.
You and your husband, fellow journalist Neil Varcoe, have develop into fairly prolific
within the property renovation recreation, and are renovating a pub in central NSW with the goal of reworking it right into a boutique lodge. When did you uncover this was one thing you get pleasure from? I’ve all the time had a love of design and structure. We [previously] renovated a farmhouse, initially pondering we’d simply put in an Ikea kitchen and make it actually easy. That sort of escalated. Then we did a home in Sydney. That is the third venture collectively. I find it irresistible. My Instagram algorithm is simply Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and interiors … and the odd recipe for fussy eaters. That’s all I’m seeing on social media. It’s an absolute obsession, which most likely drives our architect and panorama architect nuts. Think about waking as much as 5 WhatsApp messages from me, having been up since 3am, with: “How about this? What about this? Love this plant!”
Your colleague Natalie Barr (co-host of Dawn on the Seven Community) spoke
to Stellar lately, and we talked about fixed hypothesis and assumptions – notably of ladies in high-profile roles – that they merely can’t like one another. She stated, “I’m telling you, I haven’t seen any catfights at Dawn.” Are you able to verify or deny?
I went to an all-girls faculty. I’ve the perfect crew of ladies I went to high school with. Similar with uni – nonetheless nice mates, 20 years on, guys and ladies. I’ve all the time discovered that within the office, as properly. I like supporting different ladies who’re developing the ranks as a result of that’s how I did it. I actually began making espresso on Dawn 20 years in the past, then labored my means up. The way in which I might try this was with the help of colleagues, and having the ability to see the behaviour you wish to emulate. Sure, there have been arseholes. There are in any office; that’s not unique to media. However I look to that and suppose, you recognize what? I don’t wish to be that individual to folks I’m working with. The identical with friendships throughout the media ditch. Sylvia [Jeffreys, co-host of Nine Network’s Today Extra] and I was on the highway collectively when she was the Sydney reporter for Immediately, and I used to be the reporter for Dawn. We had our first infants across the similar time. Together with Jayne Azzopardi from 9 and Jesinta Campbell, we had somewhat Zoom moms’ group throughout Covid. I don’t must combat folks from different networks. They’re my mates, my buddies.
Similar with Nat, you recognize? On daily basis within the make-up chair, we’re speaking about struggles with my youngsters and the issues I’m going by and she or he’s reflecting on that stage together with her [now grown-up] boys. It’s been pretty to have that shared expertise and to see her shine and thrive. The work she places in to being the host of Dawn blows me away. Typically after an interview goes to air, I’ll be like, “Nat, you’re so frickin’ good.” I say that genuinely. We’re nice mates in there. Any narrative that means in any other case is simply bullsh*t.
That is your second yr of involvement as an envoy for the Witchery White Shirt Marketing campaign, which donates 100 per cent of the proceeds of each white shirt bought to the Ovarian Most cancers Analysis Basis (OCRF). What attracted you to this problem?
I used to be happy to be requested. It has been working for 16 years, and so they’ve raised $16 million in that point. It’s a devastating most cancers, and up till now there hasn’t been an early detection take a look at, however due to the help by Witchery for the [OCRF], they’re on the cusp of getting one. You understand, think about that. While you discuss ovarian most cancers, typically the signs are issues like bloating or tiredness … I imply, what number of ladies are you aware who’ve these signs, however by no means get checked? As a result of they’re busy elevating a household or working full-time or have umpteen different commitments, their well being comes final. That’s what actually resonated: a easy, straightforward method to increase cash, [and] an awesome trigger clearly having an affect.
Vigilance and early detection are among the many objectives in growing consciousness of this insidious illness. You’re 40 now. Have you ever develop into extra conscious of staying on high
of well being checks, or typically being extra conscious of your individual mortality?
I believe I’ve develop into much less self-conscious by way of physique picture, however extra aware of caring for myself. The previous 4 years [since having children] have been a slog. Everybody has been there, however it’s exhausting. It’s solely lately the place I assumed, if we’re going to realize what we wish to obtain over the subsequent yr, having our household throughout two locations and eager to be there for my youngsters – and never simply come house and have a nap, which is what I used to be having to do for awhile – I must shift focus. I purchased a motorbike so I can come house and go for a experience and clear the air a bit. I purchased a lockbox for my cellphone. I’m trialling intermittent fasting. I’ve in the reduction of on espresso. Earlier than you flip 40, you might have this false sense of: issues have gone so properly, what might probably go mistaken? After 40, you suppose, OK … really, you do must handle your self. With Neil’s in poor health well being [Varcoe was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome a few years ago], I see on daily basis how impactful that’s on the household. So I believe it was a case of: I must handle myself, as a result of I’m sort of on the centre of holding this entire shebang collectively.
To help the 2024 Witchery White Shirt Marketing campaign and the OCRF, purchase a white shirt between now and World Ovarian Most cancers Day on Might 8. Store on-line at witchery.com.au or at Witchery shops all through Australia.
Hearken to the total interview with Edwina on One thing To Discuss About beneath:
Initially printed as Edwina Bartholomew: ‘I don’t give a sh*t about mom’s guilt’
