Siti Zahidah: On a career switch from civil service, holding space for others' emotions, and Why Mothers Cry

Working Moms Asia

When did you last cry? Today’s guest Siti Zahidah created the Why Mothers Cry community to encourage parents to talk about their feelings, in the hopes that others will feel less alone with theirs. If you are in a season of change, this episode is for you. Zahidah was a teacher for most of her career - over 8 years to be exact - before taking the plunge and making the switch to corporate communications for a non-profit organization.

Highlights of the episode:

• 05:53 What inspired Why Mothers Cry
• 07:17 Being a teacher
• 09:06 The switch from civil service to corporate life
• 14:11 Standing up for herself in her career
• 17:46 Flexibility as a mindset in the workplace
• 21:07 Being a singer-songwriter and discovering her love for sharing others’ stories
• 25:43 What makes a good communicator
• 29:39 Thoughts on raising children in Singapore’s education system as a former educator and mom of two young boys
• 33:35 Impact of academic stress on students’ mental health
• 37:12 Supporting children through their struggles and emotions from a young age
• 38:38 Raising children who can be vulnerable and acknowledge their feelings
• 44:43 Fostering a safe space for conversations with young children
• 51:35 Being the default parent and how the parenting dynamic had to change with two children
• 57:48 Lessons from her first solo trip
• 01:05:26 Leaning on her proverbial kampong to raise her family
• 01:09:21 Growing with her friends through motherhood

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