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"We can do it all" might be the biggest myth facing working mothers today. Between deadlines that won't budge and children who need you right when the office does too, the elusive work-life balance often feels like chasing a mirage. But what if the secret isn't in perfecting the juggle, but in having the courage to ask for help?

Sharon Yee, a powerhouse in wealth management and mother of two teenage competitive fencers, pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build a fulfilling career while raising children and giving back to the community. With refreshing candor, she challenges the "supermom" ideal that keeps so many women exhausted and guilt-ridden. "It doesn't make you less of a super mom by asking for help," she shares, offering a perspective that feels like permission to breathe.

Throughout our conversation, Sharon reveals how her definition of success transformed through motherhood. Moving beyond material measures, she now finds victory in raising children who contribute positively to society and in creating quality connections rather than counting hours spent together. Her insights on supporting her sons' fencing careers illuminate how sports build resilience and emotional intelligence—skills she admits her teenagers sometimes handle better than she does.

Perhaps most touching is Sharon's work with ARC Children's Center, serving young cancer patients unable to attend mainstream schools due to compromised immunity. Her personal connection to childhood cancer has fueled her passion to create environments where these vulnerable children can thrive despite their diagnoses, addressing not just their physical needs but the often-overlooked childhood depression that can accompany serious illness.

Whether you're balancing board meetings with soccer practice or simply trying to find five minutes for yourself, this episode offers practical wisdom for redefining success on your own terms. Share your own juggling act with us in the comments or on social media—we're building a community where every story matters and no one has to balance alone.

Host: Edit Kerekes, former diplomat, senior strategic advisor, mom of two.

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What does it truly look like to raise a child where three languages and cultures converge? Cynthia, a Taiwanese-born Google engineering program manager living in Singapore with her Hungarian husband, offers a captivating glimpse into her multilingual, multicultural family life.

Wearing what she calls "multiple hats" throughout her day, Cynthia Wei navigates early morning global work meetings, acts as a "human snooze alarm" for her four-year-old daughter, and maintains family connections spanning three continents. Her household is a beautiful linguistic tapestry where Mandarin and Hungarian become "secret languages" between parent and child, occasionally leading to hilarious misunderstandings—like when her husband accidentally shouted "Happy New Year" in Mandarin instead of "Happy Birthday" to her 95-year-old grandmother.

Beyond the daily cultural juggling act, Cynthia's story takes a profound turn as she reveals her harrowing medical emergency just days after childbirth. A ruptured colon led to life-threatening infection, emergency surgery, and weeks in the hospital separated from her newborn. This experience fundamentally transformed her perspective: "Being alive is not a given," she reflects, explaining how this awareness helps her navigate parenthood's frustrations with deeper gratitude.

The family's commitment to lifelong learning stands out as they make it a point to learn something new together every year—from Cynthia learning to ski at 42 to studying Hungarian grammar. This approach models resilience for their daughter while creating meaningful family bonds. They've also built a rich support network in Singapore, particularly valuing the unexpected parent friendships formed during COVID lockdowns that began with socially distanced picnics.

Whether you're raising multilingual children, balancing a demanding career with parenthood, or simply interested in how families create meaning across cultural boundaries, Cynthia's story offers wisdom, humor, and a refreshing perspective on embracing life's beautiful complexity.

Host: Edit Kerekes, former diplomat, senior strategic advisor, mom of two.

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Follow us: https://m.youtube.com/@TheJuggleverseMomsBalanceItAll

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