Josephine Ong – Mum / Director

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Having worked more than half my life in a dynamic career in sales and marketing, and enjoying the fruits of my labour by rewarding myself with material knick-knacks, pursuing higher education and travel escapades with my other half, my decision to “downgrade” to a part-time work arrangement after the birth of my twin sons, was one of the biggest decisions in my life.

I must say that the “trigger factor” after losing my younger twin to an abnormal heart condition just after he turned 2 months old, was one of the main ‘push’ factor.  The other factor was seeing and sending my other twin to infant care when he was just 8 months-old from 8am to 6pm daily, so that I could go to work full-time to make ends meet and provide for the family a comfortable life. Sounds perfectly normal, however, daily I struggled to say goodbye to my little one and felt that the equation just did not seem right.

Finally, I made the brave move of requesting for part-time work arrangements at my current work place.  It took me more than 2 years of requesting and rejection before I was eventually granted a permanent part-time status at the institution.  I am always grateful to my then superior (a mother herself), who had supported me all the way, and had helped to put up my request to “higher management”.  Eventually, they took the bait and approved my request.

Looking back, although I had initially wondered if I would ever make ends meet, and manage my finances to give my family a “comfortable life”, with the severe pay cut, I am currently still in the same job, and enjoying our simple pleasures in life.  I have also learnt to manage my finances more frugally, and adopt the “best things in life are free” approach.  I have also taken the step forward to pursue my passion and set-up my own home-based business in training and teaching.  I hope to spread the message to more mothers out there, that it is possible to turn your passion into your profession, and yet put our priorities right with our children and family first.  At the end of the day, I also believe that time waits for no man, if you do not spend time with your children right now, the clock will never turn back for us.  However, if we are good and hardworking, we can always find that special career for us anytime, anywhere.

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