Can Mums give 100% to both family and career?

Recently there has been discussion going on about Singapore's falling birth rate again... ...

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080805/tap-952-baby-woes-just-employers-fault-231650b.html

it is difficult to strike a PERFECT balance between the 2. nearly impossible. Y?

Having a baby, is not just about the pregnancy, delivering the baby out and that's it. You don't just give birth and let everyone and anyone else do the raising part of the task for you...

There's so many areas of concern... ...
Mentally, Emotionally, Physically and Financially ready.

it's a new whole lot of responsibilities that mothers has got to take with us.

when you are pregnant... you got to compromise on the activities that you once engage yourself in, you got to watch what you eat, with the tummy growing bigger everyday, more things to do like going for checkups, remembering to eat the supplements, preparation for baby's arrival, lots of reading to arm yourself with the knowledge of taking care of baby like breastfeeding, their poos and pees, the best value nappies (if not the best), the occasional leg cramps, YET not forgetting the housework and daily stuffs that will as a matter of fact still be there becos most husbands can't help much these days?

when you are nearing your delivery...you go to prepare for the hospital admitance stuffs, you start thinking about whether it's that painful, will baby be delivered safe and sound...you start learning how to take care of baby when he/she's out...

when baby is finally out...you begin a slow life-long learning journey of taking care of him/her...trying your best to give baby the best...tender loving care, be a mummy who be there for his needs and wantsyou learn to compromise some of your own leisure time just to cater more for baby.
Oh and for a personal reason, regain your pre-pregnancy figure... ...

Many times, it's proven that...while
a woman is someone's daughter, someone's wife, someone's daughter-in-law, someone's mummy, someone's sister(if has siblings) and also accountable to herself.
a man may also have that multiple of roles, but in reality how much do they do?

if you want to PERSONALLY give your very best for the baby/babies, and not just be glad to have someone(maid, parents, in-laws) to change the diapers, feed the baby, raise the baby for you, it is going to be TOUGH to strike a PERFECT balance between work and family..not to even mention climbing the corporate ladder.

Something at some point in life got to take at least a SMALL step backwards first while the other progress. The question is how SMALL a step?

So, its not all just about $$$$ only...