PM Lee urges more babies in Year of Rabbit
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[quote=\"daddybear\"]My point is that if people feel reasonably secure about their future, reproduction would not be a problem. We are not fish or insects where laying 1000s of eggs and rely the survival of the fittest strategy. That is not acceptable.
Take for example a family with one income. If that person loses their job, at the age of 40+..., good luck getting another one with a similar pay. Usually, at that age, the children are just starting primary or secondary school. At 50+, the situation is aggravated and the kids are expecting to go into tertiary.
And its quite tough surviving on a single income. Taking in a salary of say $5k (not too shabby), 3 children is not easy. After all, people do not want to live from paycheck to paycheck. Someone in this forum just posted an article on an older person who had 2 kids and is clearly having trouble managing. $$$ problems often lead to mental and emotional problems.
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19271
I totally agree with you daddybear.But strangely, I have met ppl who simply don't care. That is, they don't believe in providing what I view as necessary if you want to have a child. They simply don't bother to save up or even plan for the child's uni education. Come on, isn't that the least that we should do as parents? Even Ang Pows collected during CNY are not given back to the children but recycled and given to others. For me and hubby, we just want to do our best to give the best to our dd so that she can have a comfortable life. This I feel, is the responsibiltiy of a parent and hence I can understand the concerns about $$$. -
Would \"over\" concern about the child's future and finance be a hinderance to having more kids as well. There need to be a balance approach. No one can guarantee you will hold your job till your child reaches adult age. If you think so far ahead, then chances are there will be so many uncertainties that will sort of end up not having kids.
On planning for a child's uni...my personal opinion is that its a long shot. I dun even know if they can go to there. I'm sure if they are able to, then there will be ways to work around the fees issue. Otherwise, its like planning 20 years ahead :? -
JonC:
I think we should have paternity leave, maybe not 4months, maybe 2 weeks becoz our wives are most vulnerable after giving birth isnt it....Hah, trying to legalise Paternity Leave, like in Europe.
The 4 months maternity leave (although partially paid by Gov) already give employer so much man power problem (hear say from friend's live problem), now paternity leave, good for the daddy, but not sure if it will work.
Maybe should have free education till as far as you can go. Only if we find oil well in our waters and land, like Brunei.
Is 2 weeks too much. Definitely not!!! We man go for reservist 2-3weeks every year. And for sure I cannot be having a new baby every year. If govt wants to take care of employer concerns, just let man skip 1 year reservist! Don't see what's so difficult about that. -
Relaxed parents: Too much worrying is a deterrent to a lot of things. First to plead guilty. Some leave it to chance. Some are super kiasu. Making a child is easy, rearing one is not so easy. Our declining birthrate perhaps is an indication that people are more kiasu than \"relak\"?
I know someone with a gambling habit. His daughter school fees have not been paid from Sec 1 to Sec 3. His mentality is if the school got guts, can throw her out of the school... :x Imagine how the daughter feels when the teacher scolded her in front the class and revealed all this to her classmates. Obviously, this is an extreme case.
But i think we need to see some clear evidence that society can take care of the young should the parents fall on hard circumstances. Like the newpaper report previously mentioned, I feel very sorry for the children being homeless. The newspaper reports social services is working on it... Erm, define working on it? Like while working on it, are the children still sleeping in the corridor? For how long?
Leave... long periods of leave is like a double edged sword. Good for you but perhaps not so good for your career. In any organization, if they can survive 1 month without you, it means they don't really need you. I remember in the midst of a major transaction, a colleague got called up for 4 weeks reservist overseas. He tried to get out of it but could not. Basically that incident basically short circuited his career as someone else with no reservist liabilities took over. His efforts over 18 months went up in smoke.
Got no answers to this area but just pointing out that long leave periods is not exactly without hidden cost. Not every firm lets you happy happy take one year sabbatical :lol: -
Idono:
I think that's a great idea!
I think we should have paternity leave, maybe not 4months, maybe 2 weeks becoz our wives are most vulnerable after giving birth isnt it....
Is 2 weeks too much. Definitely not!!! We man go for reservist 2-3weeks every year. And for sure I cannot be having a new baby every year. If govt wants to take care of employer concerns, just let man skip 1 year reservist! Don't see what's so difficult about that.
Gahmen trying to persuade Sgeans to procreate at a younger age right - and only younger men will have reservist duty. If gahmen come up with, have kids early and you can swop reservist for paternity leave...then younger men (who are trying to climb up that career path) will be able to make the choice. In both cases, work to nation is involved mah.
Yes, oversimplistic to think that this will make anyone want to have a child earlier. But then if a guy kena call up for reservist and then few months down the road go on paternity duty...wahhh, i cannot imagine what will happen to his career. poof? -
kaitlynangelica:
...they don't believe in providing what I view as necessary if you want to have a child. They simply don't bother to save up or even plan for the child's uni education. Come on, isn't that the least that we should do as parents? Even Ang Pows collected during CNY are not given back to the children but recycled and given to others. For me and hubby, we just want to do our best to give the best to our dd so that she can have a comfortable life. This I feel, is the responsibiltiy of a parent and hence I can understand the concerns about $$$.
Very subjective in my opinion.
I've met many who DO live paycheck to paycheck.
Not that they are irresponsible.. Not that they don't care..
Just not enough to save.. But enough to feed, clothe, have
a roof over their heads, school their children well. Cannot judge.
Different people have different lifestyles, family income, family difficulties
ie. aging/ill elders.. special children.. many children.. single income.. etc...
Good if we have enough to cover the next 20 years, but if others don't... well..
they don't. -
raynreg:
:goodpost:Would \"over\" concern about the child's future and finance be a hinderance to having more kids as well. There need to be a balance approach. No one can guarantee you will hold your job till your child reaches adult age. If you think so far ahead, then chances are there will be so many uncertainties that will sort of end up not having kids.
On planning for a child's uni...my personal opinion is that its a long shot. I dun even know if they can go to there. I'm sure if they are able to, then there will be ways to work around the fees issue. Otherwise, its like planning 20 years ahead :? -
My take. Provide your children what you can within your means at whatever point.
If you can send them overseas, great, if not, local U, if not, they may have to take a loan themselves and see themselves through their U.
There is no hard & fast rule that says we parents have to pay for every single cent of their child’s tertiary education. -
buds:
Completely agree. One does not need to over-plan.kaitlynangelica:
...they don't believe in providing what I view as necessary if you want to have a child. They simply don't bother to save up or even plan for the child's uni education. Come on, isn't that the least that we should do as parents? Even Ang Pows collected during CNY are not given back to the children but recycled and given to others. For me and hubby, we just want to do our best to give the best to our dd so that she can have a comfortable life. This I feel, is the responsibiltiy of a parent and hence I can understand the concerns about $$$.
Very subjective in my opinion.
I've met many who DO live paycheck to paycheck.
Not that they are irresponsible.. Not that they don't care..
Just not enough to save.. But enough to feed, clothe, have
a roof over their heads, school their children well. Cannot judge.
Different people have different lifestyles, family income, family difficulties
ie. aging/ill elders.. special children.. many children.. single income.. etc...
Good if we have enough to cover the next 20 years, but if others don't... well..
they don't. -
raynreg:
Again, completely agree. How do you know at 25 how things are going to be like at 45? If you try to lock everything down before you take a first step, you will never get anywhere.Would \"over\" concern about the child's future and finance be a hinderance to having more kids as well. There need to be a balance approach. No one can guarantee you will hold your job till your child reaches adult age. If you think so far ahead, then chances are there will be so many uncertainties that will sort of end up not having kids.
On planning for a child's uni...my personal opinion is that its a long shot. I dun even know if they can go to there. I'm sure if they are able to, then there will be ways to work around the fees issue. Otherwise, its like planning 20 years ahead :?
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