Mum takes off, dad dons apron

AS the saying goes, mother knows best - especially in Asia where women are traditionally expected to take care of the entire household. But what happens when mother is not around?

That is the question that cable network, LifetimeAsia, looks to answer in its new reality show, Mom's Time Out. Dubbed a social experiment, the five-episode series follows three families - the Pangs, the Kalaichelvams and the Baileys from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines respectively - as the mothers go on a luxury vacation and leave everything in the hands of their other halves.

"It's an interesting show, especially in Asia where women are meant to be superwomen, and sometimes they're not so appreciated," says local contestant Julie Pang, who runs a boutique real-estate business with her husband, Christopher. "I saw it as a chance for me to get away for awhile, and for (Christopher) to be more hands-on with the kids."