In an interview with the Stellar podcast One thing To Speak About, Dawn presenter and Witchery White Shirt Marketing campaign ambassador Edwina Bartholomew tells host and editor-in-chief Sarrah Le Marquand concerning 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 dangerous about her parenting selections 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 12 months, and your first official column – which was revealed in March – received an enormous 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?
Properly, right this moment [April 21] is definitely my [sixth] wedding ceremony anniversary, and I can verify we’re nonetheless married. It was an incredible response. It’s simply one thing individuals don’t discuss, however so many {couples} do. It completely went bananas, as a result of I believe it’s not “the finished factor”. So if 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 trustworthy, [which] is what I’ve tried to be in all aspects of my life, be it social media, TV and now in my writing.
Take heed to the complete interview with Edwina on One thing To Speak About beneath:
I do know individuals reached out and thanked you for speaking about your state of affairs, saying issues like “I believed it was simply us.” Clearly many people are more and more questioning so-called standard norms. We see it throughout the board, with individuals speaking concerning the troubles they may have had with breastfeeding or the very fact their child doesn’t sleep or, on the opposite finish of the spectrum, speaking about menopause. We’re seeing a number of trustworthy conversations on points that maybe had been by no means spoken about within the public area earlier than. And possibly that’s as a result of we’re listening to extra feminine voices. Or possibly it’s OK to be completely different and run your personal 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 take care of it, how they get by every day. I train that to my children. If somebody is imply within the playground, I say, “Properly, possibly they’ve received one thing happening or they’re having a foul day, and that’s OK. Give them an opportunity the following day.”
Your daughter, Molly, is now 4, and your son, Thomas, is 2. Right here at Stellar we strive to not ask individuals 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 already know what? I simply don’t give a sh*t about mom’s guilt. Individuals ask me concerning the juggle on a regular basis, and I simply say: I get rather a lot 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 a number of time with them due to the hours I work, so I’m usually 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 superb children 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 strive. That complete guilt factor … it’s garbage.
You and your husband, fellow journalist Neil Varcoe, have change into fairly prolific
within the property renovation sport, and are renovating a pub in central NSW with the purpose of remodeling 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 considering we’d simply put in an Ikea kitchen and make it actually easy. That form of escalated. Then we did a home in Sydney. That is the third mission collectively. I adore it. 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 mentioned, “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 college. I’ve one of the best crew of women I went to high school with. Identical with uni – nonetheless nice mates, 20 years on, guys and ladies. I’ve all the time discovered that within the office, as effectively. 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 manner up. The best way I may try this was with the assist of colleagues, and with the ability to see the behaviour you need 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, what? I don’t need to be that individual to individuals 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 In the present day, 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 a little bit Zoom moms’ group throughout Covid. I don’t must combat individuals from different networks. They’re my mates, my mates.
Identical with Nat, ? Day-after-day within the make-up chair, we’re speaking about struggles with my children and the issues I’m going by and he or she’s reflecting on that stage along 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 12 months 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 difficulty?
I used to be satisfied to be requested. It has been operating for 16 years, they usually’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 assist by Witchery for the [OCRF], they’re on the cusp of getting one. You already know, think about that. While you discuss ovarian most cancers, usually the signs are issues like bloating or tiredness … I imply, what number of ladies have you learnt 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, simple strategy to increase cash, [and] a fantastic trigger clearly having an influence.
Vigilance and early detection are among the many targets in rising consciousness of this insidious illness. You’re 40 now. Have you ever change into extra conscious of staying on prime
of well being checks, or typically being extra conscious of your personal mortality?
I believe I’ve change into much less self-conscious when it comes to 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 believed, if we’re going to realize what we need to obtain over the following 12 months, having our household throughout two locations and desirous to be there for my children – 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 telephone. I’m trialling intermittent fasting. I’ve reduce on espresso. Earlier than you flip 40, you have got this false sense of: issues have gone so effectively, what may probably go fallacious? After 40, you suppose, OK … really, you do must maintain your self. With Neil’s sick 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 maintain myself, as a result of I’m form of on the centre of holding this complete shebang collectively.
To assist 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.
Take heed to the complete interview with Edwina on One thing To Speak About beneath:
Initially revealed as Edwina Bartholomew: ‘I don’t give a sh*t about mom’s guilt’