Whether You Owe Your Parents A Relationship, Warning An Ex’s New Partner & Why Men Hate Fun Hair

Trigger warning: this episode includes reference to domestic violence.

This week: why men are so often annoyed by fun hairstyles, warning your abusive ex’s new partner & whether you have a duty to have a relationship with your parents.

• My bestie is a hairdresser and loves to experiment with her hair! She is talking to a new guy and mentioned to him that she is dying her hair from blonde to pink, he responded with “oh golly, don’t you already have a bit of pink in your hair?” and reacted negatively! Why do you think men get so offended when women dye their hair fun colours?
• More than five years ago I was in a nearly three year relationship with one of the most charming people I've ever met, which became abusive. Eventually, after a hiking trip abroad which included a lot of pretty awful behaviour I managed to leave. I've just come to know that he is now dating someone else I vaguely know. I feel deeply conflicted about whether I should say anything. On one hand, I don't want to interfere or seemingly question another woman's judgement or autonomy; on the other, I want to do the ethical thing.  What should I do?
• Growing up, my dad and I were incredibly close — but that changed when I was a teenager. He left my mother and married his much younger student at the university where he worked. My mother has always been mentally unstable — she’d been abusive and violent towards me, and we’ve never been close. My dad was frustrated that I was unable to just be happy for him and his new marriage, while I felt completely abandoned. For the past decade, we’ve barely talked. Recently, I became a parent. And my dad has sent an email saying he wants to reconnect. So Clementine, tell me, what do we owe our parents? He fed and clothed me, so in return, do I owe him a civil relationship and access to his grandchild?

If you have a question for Clementine, get in touch: dearclementine@novapodcasts.com.au 

ADDITIONAL HELP
1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732 or reach out via the online chat.

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

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