'My job comes at the expense of my kids'

Dealing with guilt

Asking your husband for money

The value of SAH mums is not monetary   

Dealing with overstimulation as a mum 

The first gen of mums to apologise

SAH mums sometimes feel ‘collectively lonely’ 

The motherhood penalty 

On why mothers are extra productive workers 

Advice for those considering the switch 

Mums discuss the trade-offs and rewards of both choices, and why there is no “right” way to be a mother.

Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood from July 3-31 with episodes out every Friday.

This final episode explores one of the biggest questions mothers face: Stay home with my children, or continue working? 

From the emotional cost of missing moments with their children to the financial realities of stepping away from paid employment, working mums often find themselves weighing impossible trade-offs, even though there is no “right” way to raise a family. 

Host Vanessa Chelvan speaks with Kristen Kiong, a speech therapist and mother of three who left the workforce to care for her children full-time; and Yong Qiao Qing, a marketing manager and mother of two who returned to work after being a stay-at-home mum.

They discuss the misconceptions surrounding stay-at-home mothers, the hidden value of unpaid caregiving, and why becoming a mother can make women stronger and more productive at work.

Highlights (click/tap above):

8:13 My job comes at the expense of my kids - and vice versa 

10:05 Dealing with guilt and the common misconceptions 

12:40 From earning your own money to asking your husband 

16:30 The value of stay-at-home mums is not monetary   

20:40 Dealing with overstimulation as a mum 

25:40 We are the first generation of mothers to apologise to our kids   

27:22 Stay-at-home mums sometimes feel ‘collectively lonely’ 

30:50 The motherhood penalty 

34:06 On why mothers are extraproductive workers 

36:30 Advice for those considering the switch 

Host: Vanessa Chelvan (vpchelvan@sph.com.sg)

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

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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: podcast@sph.com.sg 

—

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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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

#themotherload

Mums discuss the trade-offs and rewards of both choices, and why there is no &ldquo;right&rdquo; way to be a mother.
Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood from July 3-31 with episodes out every Friday.
This final episode explores one of the biggest questions mothers face: Stay home with my children, or continue working?&nbsp;
From the emotional cost of missing moments with their children to the financial realities of stepping away from paid&nbsp;employment, working mums often find themselves weighing impossible trade-offs, even though there is no &ldquo;right&rdquo; way to raise a family.&nbsp;
Host Vanessa Chelvan speaks with Kristen Kiong, a speech therapist and mother of three who left the workforce to care for her children full-time; and Yong Qiao Qing, a marketing manager and mother of two who returned to work after being a stay-at-home mum.
They discuss the misconceptions surrounding stay-at-home mothers, the hidden value of unpaid caregiving, and why becoming a mother can make women stronger and more productive at work.
Highlights (click/tap above):
8:13 My job comes at the expense of my kids - and vice versa&nbsp;
10:05 Dealing with guilt and the common misconceptions&nbsp;
12:40 From earning your own money to asking your husband&nbsp;
16:30 The value of stay-at-home mums is not monetary&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
20:40 Dealing with overstimulation as a mum&nbsp;
25:40 We are the first generation of mothers to apologise to our kids&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
27:22 Stay-at-home mums sometimes feel &lsquo;collectively lonely&rsquo;&nbsp;
30:50 The motherhood penalty&nbsp;
34:06 On why mothers are extra productive workers&nbsp;
36:30 Advice for those considering the switch&nbsp;
Host: Vanessa Chelvan (<a href="mailto:vpchelvan@sph.com.sg">vpchelvan@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Vanessa's articles: <a href="https://str.sg/gr5Z">https://str.sg/gr5Z</a>
Follow Vanessa on LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/jHdJ">https://str.sg/jHdJ</a>&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Elizabeth Law
&mdash;
Follow The Mother Load limited series every Friday (July 3-31):
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/oMofY">https://str.sg/oMofY</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/8Kbv">https://str.sg/8Kbv</a>&nbsp;
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/DELD">https://str.sg/DELD</a>&nbsp;
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/HnaV">https://str.sg/HnaV</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>&nbsp;
&mdash;
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>&nbsp;
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>&nbsp;
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
#themotherload

Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood from July 3-31 with episodes out every Friday.

This series isn’t just for mums – it’s for anyone trying to make sense of where careers and motherhood intersect. Through candid conversations and lived experiences, we unpack the issues shaping everyday decisions - from childcare and career progression to guilt, ambition and the invisible mental load.

Host: Vanessa Chelvan

Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Elizabeth Law

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood from July 3-31 with episodes out every Friday.
This series isn&rsquo;t just for mums &ndash; it&rsquo;s for anyone trying to make sense of where careers and motherhood intersect. Through candid conversations and lived experiences, we unpack the issues shaping everyday decisions - from childcare and career progression to guilt, ambition and the invisible mental load.
Host: Vanessa Chelvan
Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Elizabeth Law
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.