For this year’s International Women’s Day, The Singapore Women’s Weekly is taking a look at the roles mothers play in society, and what is needed to balance a fulfilling professional and personal life. In this final story, we speak to mums who have redesigned work-life balance to spend more time with their children.
It’s a situation familiar to many mothers. The dilemma between being more hands-on with the kids versus giving your best (hours) in a job you excel in. The mum guilt that arises every time a bedtime routine is missed because of a meeting that overruns. The vacant replies you wave your child away with when you are too exhausted from corporate life.
Despite our best efforts to wear multiple hats, sometimes it just isn’t viable to “have it all”, no matter what social media tells you, and it’s maybe time to try and find a way to make motherhood work for your specific situation.
These six mothers chose different ways to refocus their work-life balance, ditching gruelling careers in favour of raising their kids the way they want, while finding ways to do meaningful work. Whether they stepped down their hours, pursued a new passion or became a full-time mum, one thing was common: redesigning their life to suit their personal values has been hands down one of the most empowering things they’ve done for themselves.