1. working mums
141September14
FlatFlat
Out!Out!Ten working woman
tell us how they do it
Ten working women
tell us how they do it
By Katie Roberts
Being organised, and, where possible,
outsourcingtime-consumingtasksare
key for me. For instance, using the amazing
door-to-door school bus instead of driving my
daughter to school saves at least two hours of my
working day. Our helper Violy is wonderful; she
self-manages her time and knows what needs
to be achieved. We agreed on this upfront when
she started with us five years ago. My ‘me time’ is
exercise: running about four times and doing circuit
or cycle classes three times a week. I went back to
work when Lilliana was four months old, as that was
all the maternity leave I could take, so she hasn’t
known any different. It’s such a personal decision
to work or not to work, but I enjoy the challenge.
Weekends and holidays are for family; our motto is
that it’s all about quality time.”
Juggling work, children and life is no
mean feat. These ten amazing mums
talk candidly about how they keep it
all together, and remain sane.
What does Mum’s work involve?
While some kids get upset when mum has to head
off to work (who hasn’t had a child clinging to a leg
like Velcro?), for others, usually older children, it’s
not such an issue. As well as openly discussing work,
and helping children understand why mothers work,
there’s value in showing them where you work, and
the kind of work you do.
“I’ve always made a point of bringing the children
to visit my office, usually as a treat during the school
holidays. They get to meet my colleagues, and
see where I sit and the area I work in. I think this
understanding has helped allay any negative thoughts
about me going off to work each day.”
– Nicole Lade
It’s such a personal
decision to work or not
to work, but I enjoy the
challenge
Natalie Dau
• Director and
co-owner at
Geek Team Asia
• One daughter
(5 )
• Works full-
time and takes
business trips,
as does her
husband
1

2. LIFE&FAMILY
142 September14
“Whenitcomestomanagingthehome,
I have the same philosophy as at work
– surround yourself with competent
people, empower them and they will
shine! To be able to delegate fully does mean
having to give up on having everything just the
way I would like it. I have to choose what is really
important, and concede on certain things since I’m
not the one who has to implement any plans. We
hired a helper with a university degree because
I wanted someone who shares our values of
education, is smart, self-motivated and does not
need close supervision. I have a personal trainer
who comes to me in the mornings, the only
time that fits my schedule. I’m also taking guitar
lessons and attend a monthly book club with a
fun group of ladies. I know that I am a happier
person, and therefore a happier mum, because
I have a job that excites and stimulates me, and I
try to ensure my kids understand that work is fun
and challenging and that I
choose to do it. Of course,
there is still guilt, mostly
that I can’t go to all of the
school activities like some
other mums, but I choose
the important days and
make a huge effort to get
there. The hardest thing is
the judgement of others.
When younger women at
work ask me for advice,
I never say that you can
achieve perfect balance,
but I do say you can make
careful choices and learn
to make peace with those
things you can’t achieve.”
“WehaveafamilyGoogle
Calendar where we
put our activities, and
everyone including my
helper has access to
it, so that it helps us
stayontopofthings.My
helper has been with us for
10 years and she manages
her own time. The house is
much tidier than it ever was
when I was doing it! I work
out most days, usually before
the kids wake up or after
they go to bed. On Saturday
mornings I go rowing while
they are doing taekwondo. Of
course there are times when
you feel bad that you can’t
be there for every school
event, but I’m very aware that
I am a better mum because I
work. I firmly believe a happy
mum makes a good mum,
and work brings fulfilment. I
admire women who can stay
at home and devote all their
time to their kids, but that isn’t
for me.”
2
3
Stephanie Huf
• Regional Vice-President,
Marketing and Public
Affairs at Ericsson South
East Asia and Oceania
• Two children (11 and 8)
• Works full-time and last
year was away for more
than six months; her
husband travels about
six times a year
Common Ground
Many women take business trips, ranging from just a couple of days a year
up to almost six months of travel. Some of their partners are required to
travel too, but they are all advocates of finding a way for one parent to be
on the ground in Singapore, for the children’s sake. When it can’t be helped,
trusted friends and loyal helpers are on standby.
“To manage time expectations with Lilliana, I made a chart (think advent
calendar) with the number of days I would be away. She opened a window
each morning, knowing it was a day closer. I put a sticker or candy behind
the window to make it more fun.” – Natalie Dau
Jo Pizel
• Integrated Communications
Manager at Procter & Gamble
• Three boys (10, 8 and 5)
• Works full-time and travels
about 20 to 25 days a year;
husband rarely travels

3. working mums
Books:
Book Depository
(bookdepository.com)
for bargains on books.
Singapore Public
Libraries (nlb.gov.sg)
Check catalogue and reserve
books online
Online shopping
Day or night, it’s a time-saver for busy families
Cooking:
cookingforbusymums.com
and onehandedcooks.com.au
for recipes and tips; paprika.com
is an app that stores your recipes,
calculates ingredients on the basis of
the number of people eating, and puts
together a shopping list to take to the
supermarket on your smartphone.
Clothes, shoes
and accessories:
ASOS, Shopbob, Net-a-Porter,
Anthropologie, Country Road, White
Company, ShopBop, Barney’s,
Neiman Marcus, Banana Republic,
Athleta, Chopin Roma, Singsale,
Mountfords (for shoes). Highly
recommended is Singapore-based
invertededge.com: purchases
arrive the next day and personal
styling sessions are available at its
warehouse.
Shipping: comgateway.com, a US
“buy and ship” service.
Christmas and
birthday presents:
Amazon and Audible.
Managing kids’ pocket money:
Rooster Bank (roosterbank.com).
Tip:
“I research everything online and
buy certain things online, and
when I’m travelling I consider
whether that location is ‘known’ for
something and take advantage,
such as getting evening dresses
and lanterns made in Hoi An,
Vietnam. Shopping while on a
business trip is also guilt-free as
I’m not taking up family time – plus
it can be cheaper and tax-free, and
can offer unique finds.
I also keep a note of my sizes in
various brands, and those of my
family, on my smartphone to make it
easier for future online purchasing.
For gifts and kids’ party needs I do
regular orders via Amazon, and I
keep a gift and cards cupboard.
The toy stores at KL airport are
particularly good, and I frequently
stock up while I’m there.”
– Stephanie Huf
Family photos:
Try to pick up a Groupon bargain,
especially when the grandparents
are around.
143September14
Food:
Redmart (redmart.com.sg)
for basic groceries.
QB Foods (qbfood.com.sg) for
cheap pantry staples like canned
tomatoes, cheeses, dried herbs and
chilled meats. Free delivery within
three days for orders over $200.
iHerb (iherb.com) for organic
and natural products such
as baby food and formula,
Method cleaning products,
and supplements. Up to 6kg of
purchases can be shipped to
Singapore from the US in under a
week for a $4 flat rate.
MMMM! – Meats, Marinades
& Much More (mmmm.com.sg)
for wagyu burgers, kurobota pork
sausages, stocks and more. Free
delivery in three days for orders
over $150.
Quan Fa Organic Farm
(quanfaorganic.com.sg) for
organic fruit and vegetables. Free
delivery for orders over $50.
New York Bagels
(nycbagelfactory.com) for fresh
bagels at your door at 7am.
Minimum $20 order, no delivery fee.
The Butcher
(thebutcher.com.sg) for meat,
cheese and condiments. Free
delivery for orders over $100.
Tip: Keep a second fridge-freezer
for buying products in bulk.

4. LIFE&FAMILY
144 September14
“As the African proverb goes, ‘It takes
a village to raise a child.’ But even
without family in Singapore, I created
my own version of a village. My trusted
helper is a key member of the village and I have
forged closer relationships with helpful mums
and good friends who are like godparents to
our son. I keep Breit’s schedule as consistent
as possible and pinned on the
fridge door. I’ve learnt not to be an
absolutist. If things don’t happen
as I envisioned, I don’t mull over
them. My helper has flexibility
and freedom to do things her
way – she is part of our family. I
run twice a week, do Reformer
Pilates classes, and occasionally
yoga and meditation. I always try
to learn something new, whether
it’s Mandarin, Spanish, art or dance
classes. Being a working mum
makesmefeelconflicted,exhausted
and, at times, guilty, though I have
gotten better at dealing with the
guilt. It feels rewarding to able to
cope as a working mother.”
“For me, it’s essential to have a
structure in place that frees up
thetimeneededformyjob. Everyone
needs to take responsibility for a role,
and Mum needs to delegate as much as
possible. Time management is key, and so
is being ‘fluid’, or ready to improvise. I swim
most mornings, or go for a jog on the East
Coast, or do a gym session. My maternity
leave was rather short, but my elder child
has been to my office a few times and sees
my job as part of the norm.”
“I’m a big believer in lists and schedules. Everything goes into my
online Google Calendar, including school activities; I also use the Notes
function on the iPhone a lot, plus my diary has my daily tasks list, as well as
weekend jobs. For ‘me time’, I read and am a part of a boozy book group
who meet once a month to chat and maybe discuss the book for 10 minutes
or so. I also love photography and paper crafts, which I muddle around with
every couple of weekends.”
Celevel
Ranoco-Butler
• General Manager at Saatchi
& Saatchi Singapore
• One boy (7)
• Works full-time and travels for
business monthly; her husband
also travels
Stephanie
J. Batot
• Executive director,
Grayling Asia
• Two children
(5 and 2 months)
• Works full-time and
does four business
trips a year; her
husband travels
more frequently
Danielle Rossetti
• Sales Manager at Expat Living Publications
• Three boys (9, 8 and 1)
• Works full-time from home, and her husband travels weekly
4 5
6

5. LIFE&FAMILY
146 September14
“We have a schedule going to make sure
the essentials get done, but other
than that my helper works to her own
plan. I miss my girls terribly
every day, but I do enjoy my
independence, and the feeling
of satisfaction of a job well
done. If my older child gets
upset, I always give her a hug
(which somehow seems to solve
everything), promise I will see
her soon and remind her how
blessed I feel that I get to be her
mummy every day. On Saturday
mornings I do bootcamp, and
every now and then I touch base
with girlfriends.”
Juggling school holidays
For school-age children, there are many options to help the long
holidays run smoothly. Most families mix it up by taking some
leave, working from home, doing a few short trips, booking
organised camps, holding play dates and going on excursions
around Singapore. Having family to visit also helps fill in the
gaps. Plus there’s Singapore’s ever-expanding list of great
attractions. (Who has ever tired of going to the Zoo?)
Some camps to try
• The American Club (amclub.org.sg/youth-kids/camps)
• JWT Kids Gym (jwtkids-singapore.com)
• Lion Adventures (lionadventures.com)
• Camp Asia (campasia.asia)
• Art Boot Camp (artbootcamp.com.sg)
• Soccer camps (jssl-arsenal.com)
Cheap alternatives
Organise playdates and outings with trusted helpers and
friends to:
• picnic and play at Gardens By The Bay and Botanic Gardens
• the swimming centres at Sengkang and Jurong
• free kids’ exhibits and workshops at museums and
art galleries
• the Science Centre (get a yearly pass so they can go anytime)
• the cinema
• East Coast Park for outdoor activities – scooters or bikes
are essential
• workshops at People’s Association Community Centres
(pa.gov.sg)
• impromptu playdates with friends in the condo
“The summer holidays are the most
challenging time. We generally take our
longbreakduringthistime,andIenrolthe
girls in art camps to keep them occupied.
The plus about working is that I’m contributing to
the family income and keeping my mind challenged,
but it’s tough being away from the kids, especially
when you have long hours at work.”
Nadeesha
Thanthrige
• Finance Manager at
Etihad Airways
• Two girls (11 and 9)
• Travels two or three
times a year, about
the same as her
husband
8
At home
Mums suggest alternating organised days out with home days.
Danielle Rossetti suggests a daily schedule which allocates half-
hour slots to activities like piano practice, outdoor play, playing
with siblings, online learning (school-designated sites), reading,
activity books, Lego, jobs for Mum and journal-writing.
“Then half an hour of iPad time towards the end of the day so
they know it’s scheduled in and don’t keep asking for it! Even if
they get distracted with other things during the day, at least they
are not continually asking me what to do, and they love to cross
items off their schedule.”
Hayley
Naidoo
• Manager at Matson
Driscoll & Damico
• Two girls (4 and 1)
• Works three days
a week and takes
short business
trips; her husband
travels regularly
7

6. 147September14
“I make a point of being home in time for
dinner each night. This is not only our family
catch-up time, but I believe a smooth dinner and
bedtime routine leads to a good night’s sleep for
my children. I’m also the first one up with the kids in
the mornings. These ‘bookends’ to my day are priorities for
me, and are important for the emotional wellbeing of my children
too. Before I leave on a business trip, I draw up a daily chart that
shows what the children need to wear and take to school, after-
school activities and timings, and when I think I’ll be able to call
in on Skype or Facetime. My ‘me time’ is after 8pm when the kids
are in bed. I do yoga and tennis, squeeze in a walk, and once a
month I catch up with my book club. I’ve been a working mum
for eight years now, and feel like I finally have the hang of it.”
“My tip for keeping family life together is
accepting that I probably won’t get everything
right. Even the most organised working mum can forget
the time of a play-date or to send cake to school. And it’s
okay! ‘Me time’ usually involves exercise, trying out new
restaurants and bars and spending time with friends. I’ve
recently joined the Australian New Zealand Association
Executive Committee, which is a great way to give back to
the community while meeting people, and through ANZA I
have started a networking forum to connect single parents
in Singapore. Because my kids are all in primary school,
I think it’s easier to explain to them why I go to work, and
how we can work together to make sure this is okay for
everyone. I always tell them that I love them and that they
come first. At the end of last year, my youngest was in tears
because I was the only mother who never came to school.
While I knew this wasn’t true, it did hurt and it emphasised
yet again the pressures placed on working mums (there
was no mention of dads not coming to school!). I am
passionate about kids understanding that it is not only the
dads that work hard and have interesting jobs.”
Melissa
Johnston
• Head of Learning
and Development,
APAC at JLL
• Three children (12,
10 and 8)
• Works full-time and
travels 20 to 25
days a year; her ex-
husband also travels
for business
Nicole Lade
• Associate Director,
Projects at Wiley
• Two children
(8 and 3)
• Works full-time and
travels one week
in six; her husband
rarely travels
Keep the family schedule posted on the fridge for all to see. Older
children can take responsibility for updating their activities.
Use technology wisely. Smartphones and tablets are perfect for
e-errands: writing notes on the go; doing your banking on handy
apps; keeping lists ranging from kids’ clothing sizes to gift ideas
(and even neighbours’ names); keeping up with world news; and
storing programmes and movies to watch on planes.
Use the phone camera to snap photos of things to check out
later: newspaper and magazine articles, TV shows, book reviews
and new products to try.
Create a family Google calendar that’s accessible to all, including
helpers. Use it to update school activities, sports, play dates,
recurring bill payments, appointments and business travel.
Use one household credit card to keep track of all expenses
(and accrue mileage points).
Keep in touch via FaceTime, Skype and WhatsApp.
Provide helpers with a debit card for household shopping.
Prepare forms for weekly grocery shopping lists, meal planners
and cleaning schedules.
Improve helpers’ skills by enrolling them in courses: cooking, first
aid, organisational skills and even business skills.
Take lunch to the office. Eat whenever time permits, so you free
up time to get home earlier, run errands or just get more done.
forbusymums
10tips
9
Tip: Before my helper
started, I created a “manual”,
a comprehensive outline of
weekly tasks and a suggested
schedule. I included shopping
lists, with brands and pictures,
plus some simple recipes.
While it took a lot of time to
create, it has definitely been
worth it. It allowed me to set
expectations upfront for my
helper, and gives her guidance
when I’m not around.