“It seems like I have it all, but I don’t.” 

Guilt is the only constant

What goes when the juggle gets too much?

Juggling rubber balls and glass balls

Should mums feel they have to do everything?

Being the “default parent” 

The art of delegation and equal partnerships 

Dads can take career detours too

Reframing personal ambitions as a working mum

Their ‘worth it’ moments: Two mums share

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 (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

—

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 

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 

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

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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

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 &ldquo;default parent&rdquo;, 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&nbsp;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 &ldquo;It seems like I have it all, but I don&rsquo;t&rdquo;&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
14:55 Should working mums feel they have to do everything?
16:30 Being the &ldquo;default parent&rdquo;&nbsp;
18:25 The art of delegation and equal partnerships&nbsp;
25:42 Dads can take career detours too&nbsp;&nbsp;
31:25 Reframing personal ambitions as a working mum
33:35 Their &lsquo;worth it&rsquo; moments: Jacinth and Vanessa share
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;
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>&nbsp;
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast">https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast</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>&nbsp;
#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.