I lost a sense of purpose when I became a stay-at-home dad. This is how I found it again

Channel News Asia ^ | 27 Dec 2025 | 27 Dec 2025

[nickcarraway]

Seven years ago, Mr Kelvin Seah Lee Nguon stepped back from his job to be a stay-at-home dad and eventually found himself struggling with loneliness and a lack of purpose. Here's how he learnt to appreciate life's small moments again. In late 2017, my wife and I learnt that the younger of our two sons has autism.

We needed more support at home. So in 2018, I went from being a full-time polytechnic lecturer to part-time, and became a stay-at-home husband and dad.

Since that transformative year, my day-to-day routine has pivoted to mostly household chores, parenting and some teaching. It's a somewhat slower pace of life, one that can look leisurely.

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TOPICS: Education; Society
KEYWORDS:

[BenLurkin]

“Chet Junior it is.”

[kawhill]

“In late 2017, my wife and I learnt that the younger of our two sons has autism.” Don’t ever tell him he’s special, because he isn’t...he’s extra-ordinary. The year it was reported is 2025, but the stats are from 2022, 1 in 32, the metric used...somebody tell me.

[StAnDeliver]

"Aug 16: While my wife was convalescing after a marathon operation to remove several malignant tumours"

Dude, get your azz back in the game and let her rest.

[No name given]

Pronto.

[metmom]

Seven years ago, Mr Kelvin Seah Lee Nguon stepped back from his job to be a stay-at-home dad and eventually found himself struggling with loneliness and a lack of purpose.

No such thing as losing a sense of purpose when you consider that raising children is raising the next generation's leaders.

The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world.

[metmom]

If he was caring for the kids while she was convalescing, he WAS letting her rest.

Taking care of kids who don’t understand when someone is sick, or hurting, or recovering, is exhausting.

[Jonty30]

Men need projects. If you become a stay at home, have projects that accomplish things.