A Day in the Life: Rhonda Wong of OhMyHome

What does your daily routine look like, mamas? Tell us, we want to know!

Earlier this year we came up with the idea for a series called “A day in the life” to have mamas submit snapshots of regular moments that occur throughout their daily routines. The idea is to show the wide variety of lives mamas lead in Singapore, whether you’re in the office, staying at home, or something in between. Last month we kicked things off with our Editor, Kate McFarlane. This month, Singaporean mamapreneur Rhonda Wong of OhMyHome – an online real estate destination for HDB owners, renters, and buyers – tells us about how she balances start-up life while raising her 7-month-old baby son, Ashton!

If you’d like to be featured in this series, mama, drop us a line at [email protected] with “Day in the Life” in the subject line!

Around this time, I’ll hear my little 7-month-old (Ashton) make cute little noises in the next room. He’s awake! I used to dislike having to wake up early but somehow Ashton is able to change that. I spring awake to visit his cot, catch his first smiles, and carry him over to my bed where my hubby and I can have some cuddles (when he’s not squealing!). I begin expressing milk while singing him his morning book of songs.

I start getting ready for work, checking emails and messages that have accrued overnight. Put on my makeup, do my hair as my son watches in amusement. My hubby usually makes us breakfast and Ashton will sit with us while we have our breakfast. Sometimes I’ll skip breakfast when I’m running out of time.

8:30am
I head to office.

The first half-an-hour of my work day usually determines how the rest of my day will flow. My secretary will confirm with me my full day of appointments and there’ll be a flurry of messages amongst my Ohmyhome teammates on the agenda/to-dos to set the stage for the day. The window between 9:30 to 12:30pm usually comprises 2-4 internal meetings with my various department heads or staff members.

I head back home by 1pm, lunch, express, see Ashton and head back to office. If it’s a busy day, I’ll invite my colleague over for a lunch meeting. Ashton usually sits next to me during lunch and most meal times. I’m trying to teach him to sit quietly through meals like a good little boy.

Afternoons usually comprise 1-2 meetings with external parties; some days like today I’ll be out on roadshows giving out tissue packs and meeting with our app users. These four hours fly by and before I know it, it’s 6pm.

My colleagues who have been trying to catch me the entire day and haven’t had the chance to, will ask me for 5-15 minutes meetings. I feel bad about it, but there just never seems enough time to pay attention to everything.

When it’s nearing 7pm, I start thinking about Ashton. I start thinking that I have to leave my office now or I’ll miss the window to feed him and put him to bed. So I’ll tell my team that I’ll be back if they’ll still like to see me otherwise we can catch up over the phone. I start packing up and rush home.

Sometimes I’ll have my dinner, sometimes I’ll wait. It depends on how much time I have with Ashton. He isn’t all that excited to see me when I come home because there are so many amazing people keeping him entertained throughout the day. My parents and our helpers adore him to bits. I know they must’ve read him his books, flashcards, took him for a dip in the pool, and sung him a hundred songs by the time I see him, but that doesn’t stop me from singing him his favorite songs anyway. I cherish whatever little time I have with him before he goes to bed at 8pm.

I’ll have my dinner and either go back to the office or continue my work at home.

11pm

Express, read the news, catch up on messages that I’ve overlooked all day and cuddle time with hubby.

Asleep by 1am