Are you referring to the 12-year old girl who decided to leave
home and took her 9-yr old sister along? I read that in my dad's
copy of The New Paper last night.
Well, the parents admitted that they were so busy working, they
didn't spend much time at all with their kids.
I find that it's so sad that stuff like this is happening.
Has it become so
expensive to keep a family? Or do we have more expensive tastes
these days?
When I was working in the corporate world, I thought that in
general, Singaporeans were pretty well-off. Then, when I entered
Nursing, I saw glimpses of poverty that I never knew still existed
here in this day and age.
I look around and see families surviving on monthly budgets of
$1000 or less. And then, you see singles here, not being able to
survive on a monthly budget of less than $2000!!
My point is, if we were more frugal and adjust our spending habits
once we start a family, esp if we're not high-income earners to
start with, that might free more time for at least one parent to
watch over the kids. I think it's so important for parents to
supervise their young children and inculcate the right values in
them. You can't just let them go roaming about on their own and get
involved with all sorts of undesirable company! I read that the
12-yr old constantly hangs out with a group of teenage boys and one
of them is her 'boyfriend'! 
How ironic that so many couples these days start families, only to
leave their babies / kids with the maids, or with the grandparents
for the entire week until they bring them home only for the
weekends!! I mean, if you really
don't have time for your babies / kids, maybe, you really should
rethink having babies. 
