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

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

July 8, 2026 · 39 min · Season 1 · Episode 2

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges of working motherhood, including guilt, the mental load of being the default parent, and the importance of sharing responsibilities.

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”&nbsp…

More episodes of The Straits Times Podcasts

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Straits Times Podcasts podcast page.