Stay-at-home or working mum: Is there ever a right choice?

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 extra productive workers  36:30 Advice for those considering the switch  Host: Vanessa Chelvan ([vpchelvan@sph.com.sg](mailto: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  YouTube: https://str.sg/HnaV Feedback to: [podcast@sph.com.sg](mailto: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 \--- 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.