Government, what you really want us to do?

[Lilac66]

ksi:

Lilac66:

In the past, with extended families staying within the same household and also we have a strong network support from neighbours , taking care of children was not that immense a problem.

I remember as a child , my siblings and I spent quite a fair bit of time at my neighbour's house as our parents were working long hours just to make ends meet.

Government tries to promote neighbourliness but somehow it failed compared to the past because people like to keep to themselves these days.

Yes, it's true. I really miss my childhood days! Somehow our games were not sophiscated but so much more creative.

[corneyAmber]

Lilac66:

ksi:

[quote=\"Lilac66\"]
In the past, with extended families staying within the same household and also we have a strong network support from neighbours , taking care of children was not that immense a problem.

I remember as a child , my siblings and I spent quite a fair bit of time at my neighbour's house as our parents were working long hours just to make ends meet.

Government tries to promote neighbourliness but somehow it failed compared to the past because people like to keep to themselves these days.

Yes, it's true. I really miss my childhood days! Somehow our games were not sophiscated but so much more creative.[/quote]Yalor... :hi5: . Curry Yong Tau Hu....no need anything also can play...just need space!!!

[Dora1]

Lilac66:

BabyRR:

I am slightly surprised to see that so far in this debate regarding TFR, there's been no mention about the domestic helper situation.

I feel that unless one has fantastic family support network ie. grandparents helping out with kids, a reliable domestic helper is immensely helpful especially when you are talking about a dual income family with very young kids. ie< 2years. And I feel the current luck of draw system in selection of domestic helper, as well as the limited supply of good helpers is a big impediment to couples who may otherwise have considered more than 1 or 2 kids.

In the past, with extended families staying within the same household and also we have a strong network support from neighbours , taking care of children was not that immense a problem.

I remember as a child , my siblings and I spent quite a fair bit of time at my neighbour's house as our parents were working long hours just to make ends meet.

But but but... last time majority are SAHMs.... working parents were the minority. But now FTWM is the norm wor.... then which neighbour is available to take care of the kids?? :siam:
I know... there are limited SAHM's who are willing to take care of your kids - its called nanny lor!!! Service must come with :moneyflies:

[nightlone]

i don’t think neighbourliness can be ‘promoted’. it has to come from within. Like being kind, happy… all the intangible things.

[nightlone]

iggy:

Agree with nightlone. The best \"headstart\" we can give our kids is to be financially independent ourselves. Hopefully the kid will learn from us and be self sufficient. But( always a but) its easier said than done with escalating house prices...

escalating everything prices....

[resgmom]

Dora1:

:goodpost: I totally agree, esp the last point on the BTO flats. Most of my younger family members are putting off marriage and kids because of the insane flat prices and not being able to ballot successfully. Even those who eventually manage to ballot are waiting 3 years, by which time they are all 30+ already. Likelihood of more children greatly reduced.

Also by the time they're 30+ already, there are many who wish to have children but can't. Govt could consider giving some kind of (reasonable) subsidy to these parents undergoing fertility treatment.

[janet88]

HDB flats are NOT cheap. When couples receive the keys, they have to spend a lot of money renovating it as well as buying furniture…even if they don’t use top grade materials, renovations is NOT cheap either. How can newly wed couples afford all these when they start working ?


If couples have kids, who looks after them ? Maid also 1) not cheap 2) unreliable 3) not easily available with so many new regulations. 4) would you dare to let the maid to look after your newborn ?

[sleepy]

nightlone:

ksi:

[quote=\"nightlone\"]
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?

Hello hello :imanisland: :imanisland: are you talking about me?

haha... i'm talking about me
I admit i'm selfish de...[/quote]I subscribed to the exact same thinking too!
Hence, become a SAHM

[nightlone]

sleepy:

I subscribed to the exact same thinking too!
Hence, become a SAHM

good for you! :rahrah:

[daisyt]

Parenting in the current society and generation have too many issues to tackle. The types of problems our parents or grandparents have to tackle were less complicated.


From what I have heard on radio about discussion on birth rate, someone mention, it is a national issue. Everyone has the responsibilty on national issues, on one hand we are to fulfill our national responsibilities, we also need to think of our personal responsibilities.

In future, if my child needs help from me on taking care of her kids, I would try my best. However, if she decides not to have any children, I am able to accept it.