Government, what you really want us to do?

[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.

[nms1]

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.

I agree that one person cannot represent a whole population but I do think that many (not all) Singaporean women are molly-coddled. I do also think that the working culture here does make it harder than elsewhere as there are fewer opportunities to work part-time, shortened hours etc which is how many women in the US & Europe are able to handle working and their children without any help.

Sometimes I think that we set our expectations too high as well - if you are working you may not be able to put a home-cooked meal on the table every evening, the floor may not be mopped every day, there may always be a big pile of ironing to be done, children may have to do their homework on their own but it is possible.

[Mychildren]

Ya, its true. I can do it but some cannot do it. It applies to everything in fact.


Car over in states is much cheaper & some mothers do not know how to drive here. Thus they need external help.

[nightlone]

well, the thing is every singaporean there will complain about how they cannot handle. they need the parents or parents in law to come over to take care. then when the grandparents are gone, it’s like the ‘holiday’ is over.

i ascribe to the thinking that "it’s my choice to have kids so i need to be responsible for them and not park them at the grandparents or someone else."
if i think i cannot handle it, then i’m not going to give birth.
what’s the point of having a child but being unable to spend time with them and nurture them? what’s the point of giving birth when you just leave them with the grandparents or someone else all the time?

[verykiasu2010]

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.

can you do that for 52 weekends ?