S1E2: 2 mums on guilt, being the default parent and juggling work

We explore the cost of carrying it all - and how to lighten the load. Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood from July 3-31 with episodes out every Friday. For many mothers, every day is a balancing act: work emails, school messages, and trying to be fully present with their children while an endless mental checklist runs in the background. In this episode, we unpack the feeling of never being enough at work or at home, the invisible mental load of being the “default parent”, and why some things in life are rubber balls that bounce back when they are dropped. We also talk about burnout, sharing the load with your partner, and how becoming a mother reshapes what ambition and success looks like. Host Vanessa Chelvan is joined by Jacinth Liew, parenting coach and founder of Our Little Play Nest. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:40 “It seems like I have it all, but I don’t”  7:25 Guilt is the only constant 10:45 What gets sacrificed when the juggle gets too much? 12:50 Juggling rubber balls and glass balls  14:55 Should working mums feel they have to do everything? 16:30 Being the “default parent”  18:25 The art of delegation and equal partnerships  25:42 Dads can take career detours too   31:25 Reframing personal ambitions as a working mum 33:35 Their ‘worth it’ moments: Jacinth and Vanessa share Host: Vanessa Chelvan ([email protected]) Read Vanessa's articles: https://str.sg/gr5Z Follow Vanessa on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jHdJ  Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Elizabeth Law — Follow The Mother Load limited series every Friday (July 3-31): Channel: https://str.sg/oMofY  Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/8Kbv  Spotify: https://str.sg/DELD  YouTube: https://str.sg/HnaV Feedback to: [email protected]  — Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB  Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #themotherloadSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.