Edwina Bartholomew Shares Honest Reflections on Mother’s Day and Parenting Challenges
Edwina Bartholomew, a well-known face on the Sunrise program, has always been a busy individual. Her life is filled with various responsibilities, from her television career to managing a cafe and renovating a property in Carcoar, NSW, which is set to become a hotel this year. As a mother of two, she continues to navigate the challenges of balancing work and family life.
This Mother’s Day, however, was not as perfect as it might have seemed. While many people shared idealized images of their families, Edwina chose to be candid about her experience. She posted a photo that appeared idyllic but quickly clarified that it wasn’t taken on the actual day.
“This photo wasn’t taken yesterday. This was taken on an idyllic day when I was present, caring and relaxed,” she wrote. “Yesterday, I was cranky and short with the whole family. There were little pockets of Mother’s Day joy but I wasn’t my best self.”
Edwina explained that she had listened to the podcast The Imperfects on her way back to Sydney, where she discussed topics related to parental burnout. She found the conversation resonated deeply with her. “Often we see the filtered version here of magic moments and perfect kids but we all have disappointing days as parents,” she shared.
She also mentioned the role of entertainment in helping her cope during tough times. “Thank you to the Ninjago Movie and Playschool for keeping me sane. There was more screentime than I care to admit. Starting again fresh today.”
Open About the Realities of Motherhood
This isn’t the first time Edwina has spoken openly about the challenges of parenting. In a 2022 interview, she emphasized the importance of being honest about the “beautiful chaos of motherhood.”
“I’ll always be honest because I know how it makes me feel when I see someone else who seems to have everything together all the time. And it makes me think, what am I doing wrong?” she said.
She acknowledged that there are moments when the pressures of motherhood can become overwhelming. “It isn’t a reflection of you as a mother that you sometimes lose it or you get upset about silly things or you can’t do everything.”
In a later interview, she took a firm stance against “mother’s guilt.” “You know what? I just don’t give a sh*t about mother’s guilt,” she said. “People ask me about the juggle all the time, and I just say: I get a lot from my work; I love my work. In order to do what I do and provide for my family, yes, I have to work weird hours, travel a bit. I end up with a lot of time with them [the kids] because of the hours I work, so I’m often home by 10am or 11am and get the rest of the day with them.”
She emphasized that her children are “funny, they’re delightful, they’re well-mannered most of the time. They don’t always eat their vegetables, but we try.” For Edwina, the idea of mother’s guilt is simply not worth carrying. “That whole guilt thing … it’s rubbish.”
Her honesty and openness about the realities of motherhood have resonated with many, offering a refreshing perspective on the complexities of parenting. It’s clear that while life may not always go as planned, the journey is worth it.
