To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, AsiaOne speaks to inspiring women from different walks of life. You can find them all here
Many believe that settling down makes one cautious and risk-averse.
Parents are expected to play it safe, as their decisions impact not only  themselves but also the futures of their children.
But Cheryl Li, a wife and mother of four, defied these expectations to make a career switch at age 35 while she was pregnant with her youngest child.
Speaking to AsiaOne, Cheryl, now 37, explained that the main reason for making this leap of faith was her wish to be more present in her kids’ lives.
Her children — Dylan, Danielle, Declan and Demi — are 10, eight, four and two years old respectively.
Until 2024, Cheryl taught ballet classes from 5pm to 8pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 5pm on weekends.
“There was a clash [in schedules]. I would set off for work at the time my children came home from school or their post-curriculum activities,” she said.
“I spent so much time in the studio teaching other children, but could not spend time with my own kids because of that.”
Cheryl also recounted how she had read in a parenting book that a child’s golden years last until they are 10 to 12 years old.
The book encouraged parents to try and be as present as possible during that period.
“I thought to myself: ‘That is what I want to do, I want to be that [kind of] mum for them’,” Cheryl told us.
And working in real estate consultancy allowed her to do exactly that. It gave her the flexibility to plan her working hours around her kids’ schedules.
“This way, I can be with them whenever I want to, while having a stable job and income. It is also an honour to be able to help other families in their real estate journey. I think this is a win-win,” she added.
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