Dear Clementine

Body Hair, Co-Parenting With A Narcissist & Becoming Confident At Work

Listen on

Episode notes

This week's dose of no-nonsense advice includes how to learn to love body hair, parenting with a cheating man-child & growing your confidence at work.

  • I have recently been instructed by my gynaecologist to stop shaving so I can recover from a medical condition. Lately though, as I "bare" witness to my full bush returning, feeling sexy with my new look has eluded me. My current, and wonderfully supportive partner says it makes no difference to them but I can't help but feel... messy? Unkempt perhaps? How can I learn to feel sexy with my body hair, empowered, and untamed in all of my natural glory? 
  • I am 9 weeks separated from my husband of 10 years, partner for 18. We have 2 children. It turns out that he has casually cheated on me for at least 10 years and probably longer. He told me today, he is on the dating apps and get this, not looking for anything casual! The timeline has still left me reeling. How do I get through this and find a place where I can healthily coparent with this narcissistic, indulgent man-child? 
  • I need some help with my return-to-work post baby. After six months off, I’ve now returned to work part time and I’m not feeling like I have the knowledge or ability I had when I left. In a recent discussion around who would get jobs next year, my name came up and my stridently male supervisor said that I need to be more confident. This was after a conversation where I approached and asked for support to improve my knowledge and skills…. he told me “you just need to have more confidence, we’ve all been there”. Have you? Been the primary parent of a breastfed child trying to return to work halfway through training after a long career break?! FFS. How do I summon the rage and work on improving my practice despite him? I’m not a very angry person, and I just feel like crawling into a hole/leaving my medical job and doing something less stressful.  

If you have a question for Clementine, get in touch: [email protected] 

CREDITS 
Audio Production: Adrian Walton 
Managing Producer: Elle Beattie 
Executive Producer: Edwina Stott 

For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.