Government, what you really want us to do?

[mamago]

nms1:

mamago:

[quote=\"3Boys\"]The title of this thread should really be \"People, what do you really expect the g'ment to do?\"


People expect everything to be laid out on a platter. I luurve PM's riposte during the televised session last week to the young man who said he didn't want to get married. Well, our parents had far fewer resources and safety nets, never stopped them from having hopes and dreams and daring to try right?

Maid off every weekend so difficult to deal with meh?

If you are a SAHM, then it's not.... but if you are a FTWM you can't even have a decent day off on Sunday cos your FW helper is having hers.... in this case, a FTWM is a worse job than a FW domestic helper... this could just be one of the reasons that the yuppies generation are delaying their motherhood....

So you have the right to a day off but your maid doesn't?

I understand that there are some households with elderly/disabled family members but for the majority of us is it really so hard to look after our own children for one day. Yes, I am sometimes tired on Sundays and would love to take a break but they are my children and this is just a short period of my life. Before we know it they won't want to spend time with us and we will regret complaining when they were young or \"outsourcing\" to the maid so we could take a rest.

There are millions of women all over the world who are FTWM and do not have the luxury of a maid. Let's count our blessings.[/quote]Counting my blessing, I am a SAHM, everyday is my off day... and my 2 domestic helpers off on every Sunday... No offense. :imcool:

[nms1]

mummy so kiasu:

Melodies:

First, you encourage all women to work and make contribution to the society. So, women work.


Second, you want baby. Who is going to look after baby? So, FTWM have few options of either become SAHM or hire maid or get grand parents support, Infant care centre etc. So, most FTWMs have resorted to hire maid and have support from grand parents. Though it is tough to cope, some FTWMs still can manage to coach school goer at night n weekend for homework and revision if school does teach well. However, some FTWMs work long hour, some do not know how to coach, all these FTWMs have no choice but to outsource to Tuition.

Then, you said, maid need weekly off-day and also make it mandatory now. FTWMs have to manage both housework and coaching now. Some have maid problem ever since the maid goes out..

This is not enough, you said old folks need to work until 75 yo. :faint: Left FTWMs with very little supports now.

All those policies have further tightened all FTWMs' hands, legs and minds.. Just wonder how to have more babies?, how not to have tuition and how to further work with piece of mind? :slapshead:

Now HSK says don't go tuition. Don't over teach or the kids will get bore in class. PM says let the pre schoolers play & enjoy their childhood, don't teach them P1 stuff when they are K1. MOE says there is no exam in P1 & P2, but there are so many mastery tests & show & tell which need a lot of parents guidance. There is even streaming at the end of P2. Back to a square, if not worst than before. FTWM need a lot of support from family & government.

But if the teachers were able to teach everything that the children need to know and/or schools didn't test things that are not taught in class and the parents trusted them to do that without coaching them and worrying about their results above all else, then it wouldn't be an issue and us FTWM wouldn't come home and start the 2nd shift as tutor.

[mummy so kiasu]

Just bring your kids for an outing (Sentosa, Zoo, Universal Studio etc) over the weekend when your maids take off. You can settle your meals out to save your trouble of cooking & washing. Take it as a family bonding time & you can get all the privacy to be with your family. It is a matter of adjusting & it is not that tough.

[pirate]

3Boys:

Something quite technical but worth a read --> http://www.economist.com/node/21561112


I don't actually think anything the g'ment suggests that requires even a modicum of effort on the part of the people would work. What constitutes passing the buck? Working hard and making some sacrifices too difficult for the modern family? The g'ment need to coddle at every step?

Just telling people to 'suck it up', instead of examining and dealing with the side-effects of your own policies constitutes passing the buck.

And, yah, that's just your opinion. :evil:

[nightlone]

pirate:

That's not exactly accurate. It's not about the profitability of private bus operators, most of whom are working class people who only own one bus. If schools start later, the bus operator can only ferry either workers or children, not both. Some countries and international schools have dedicated school buses. Of course, somebody must pay to maintain it. Which leads back to the question, is the government too cheapskate on things that truly matter? :scratchhead:

actually... school buses in the States are free for the government schools, if your school is within your district.

[Oppsgal]

mamago:

Counting my blessing, I am a SAHM, everyday is my off day... and my 2 domestic helpers off on every Sunday... No offense. :imcool:

Good for you.

[Mawar]

ksi:

verykiasu2010:

[quote=\"sleepy\"]

I forced mine to sleep early. Problem is she couldn't finish her homework as she returned home around 4pm twice to thrice a week. Next day teacher made her 罚站. Her classmates managed to finish theirs so comparatively she seems slacked in her completing her homework. But her classmates slept at 11+pm while my dd's bedtime is at 9+pm. Hence she's cute and chubby which is more important to me than completing homework :evil:

9pm ? for lower primary ok, but up to 11pm for p6 is not too bad

mine in lowest upper primary is still 9pm.[/quote]Mine too. By 9pm, should be ready to turn in and lights out. If there is still work undone, too bad.

[3Boys]

pirate:

3Boys:

Something quite technical but worth a read --> http://www.economist.com/node/21561112


I don't actually think anything the g'ment suggests that requires even a modicum of effort on the part of the people would work. What constitutes passing the buck? Working hard and making some sacrifices too difficult for the modern family? The g'ment need to coddle at every step?

Just telling people to 'suck it up', instead of examining and dealing with the side-effects of your own policies constitutes passing the buck.

And, yah, that's just your opinion. :evil:

And pray tell the evidence that the falling birth rate has ANYTHING to do whatsoever with those policies you are critiquing? Who's to say it's not just navel-gazing, lazy, short-sighted Singaporeans displacing blame?

'Suck it up'? I'd say take it or leave it.

[nightlone]

I agree with not hiring maids.

I lived in the States for a couple of years and observed the ang mohs. they have 3, 4 kids. Maybe 1 kid goes to a preschool. The other 2 goes to middle school. The other is, maybe, an infant. The mum brings the kids to school with no external help at all. She puts the car seat in the stroller and drops her preschooler off. Then drives off to drop the other 2. Or vice versa.
I suppose it is much easier with a car and big roads. I just do admire how they are able to do it.
The Singaporeans who have a young child and then give birth there (which makes 2) grumble and whine about how difficult it is to take care of 2 kids. But the ang mohs can do it in the same environment, so why can’t the Singaporean?
I concluded that we are all molly-coddled in singapore so cannot adapt to make things work.

[concern2]

nightlone:

I agree with not hiring maids.

I lived in the States for a couple of years and observed the ang mohs. they have 3, 4 kids. Maybe 1 kid goes to a preschool. The other 2 goes to middle school. The other is, maybe, an infant. The mum brings the kids to school with no external help at all. She puts the car seat in the stroller and drops her preschooler off. Then drives off to drop the other 2. Or vice versa.
I suppose it is much easier with a car and big roads. I just do admire how they are able to do it.
The Singaporeans who have a young child and then give birth there (which makes 2) grumble and whine about how difficult it is to take care of 2 kids. But the ang mohs can do it in the same environment, so why can't the Singaporean?
I concluded that we are all molly-coddled in singapore so cannot adapt to make things work.

Wrong judgement made. One person cannot rep. the whole population. Not ALL SINGAPOREANS cannot manage with more than 2 kids without maids. And there are also AMs who cannot manage as well. To be more objective, perhaps have a better understanding of the background of the individuals.