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I brought my kid to the INSEAD MBA in Singapore, leaving my husband in Japan. To make my academic life happen at INSEAD, I hired a helper and lived together. So three girls—me, my daughter, and the helper—were living in the same house. My helper was a great help, and I don't think I could have survived without her. That is one of the reasons why I chose INSEAD. They have a great campus in Singapore, where there is a culture of hiring live-in helpers.

On weekdays, I woke up in the morning and prepared for my daughter's nursery. My helper made breakfast every morning, a sandwich and bananas, and for me, coffee, and helped my kid change her clothes. Having breakfast together is a must for mom and daughter communication. 

After that, I went to campus for class, and my daughter went to the nursery with the helper. I had classes until 5 pm and got back home. My daughter came back around the same time from the nursery, and we had dinner together. My helper went to buy groceries and food during the daytime, so I didn't have to do any housework but could focus on my study and engagement with my kid. When there was a party, I brought my daughter to the party together, stayed until 8 pm, and went back home. I balanced my sole attention to my daughter and socialising with my friends by setting an 8 pm rule. After that, I put my daughter to sleep and started the assignments, working on them until 12 am.

On weekends, my daughter and I were always together. We went to many playdates with many families in INSEAD and local Singaporeans. We went to Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, Art Museum, Singapore Aquarium, Botanical Gardens, and so on. Also, when my husband visited Singapore, we travelled to Malaysia and enjoyed the beach. Also, in Singapore, a pool is a must for condominiums, so we played in the pool whenever we didn't have any special plans.

I'm writing about my journey as a beautiful path, though, like any meaningful journey, it came with its challenges. Balancing my role as a mother while navigating the demands of INSEAD required constant adaptation.  

Between childcare arrangements, administrative tasks like visa applications, household management, coursework, and career planning, I found myself juggling many responsibilities simultaneously. Initially, I believed the solution was to maximise the quantity of time I spent with my daughter. However, I noticed she seemed restless during our time together, which puzzled me. The answer came unexpectedly during a group project at INSEAD. During our presentation preparation, I observed how team members became more vocal and assertive when they felt their ideas weren't being fully heard, which is a natural response to feeling overlooked.

This observation led to a revelation about my daughter's behaviour. She had sensed that while I was physically present, my attention was often divided between her and my other responsibilities. My attempts to "carve out time" for her actually communicated that being with her felt like a sacrifice rather than a joy.

This insight transformed my approach entirely. I began focusing on being fully present during our time together, setting aside my phone, temporarily putting aside academic concerns, and giving her my complete attention. The change was remarkable. She became more content and engaged, teaching me that meaningful connection comes from the quality of our interactions, not simply the duration.

Thanks to INSEAD, I became more confident as a mom. I know what to focus on and when to maximise my personal and my family's happiness. I became more organised and clear about what I prioritise and what I don't. And the funny thing is, INSEAD gave me inspiration about motherhood through their MBA programme.