Visiting family and friends in Singapore during this
CNY period. Reading news about the
government’s white paper on population growth for 2030. Reading on
the difficulties of getting Singaporeans to have more babies. Just
some thoughts on my mind:
I am not a ‘talent’ that went overseas nor do I consider myself a
‘quitter’... I just happened to meet someone in UK while working
short term in UK…. got married and started a family in UK… for my
own nostalgic thoughts, my family, my friends, I often had thoughts
of returning to Singapore for good with my hubby and kids… but…
hmm… being in Singapore now makes me really think thrice….
1) the work culture… how am I going to adapt working long hours and
returning home late, not spending a lot of time with my kids liaoz?
I really hate to think about it. At the moment, I am able to leave
work on time at 5pm in UK, get home at 6pm, cook and have family
meals with my family. I think most likely, I will not have this
luxury in Singapore… and I will hate it….
2) the competiveness of parents on their children… goodness… my 4
year-old niece in ‘tuition’ and many other children of my friends
in ‘enrichment classes’... i just want my 3 year-old and 1 year-old
to have a happy childhood!! I can understand the parents’ anxiety
about their children lagging behind when they get to P1, but I
really want MY children to have a happy childhood like I do! .....I
would not like to have this ‘stress’ on me…hmm….
3) child care…. with my own parents getting old, there’s no way
they can help… i know i can get maids, put the children in
nursery/infant care etc…. but if I want to have more than 2
children, the financial burden will be too much…. if I look after
them myself, then my husband will have to work harder (longer
hours??!!) and there will again be sacrifice on his part on family
life…. hmm…
These are all in my mind when I am here now in Singapore observing
the whole issue… i love children and would love to have more than 2
children… but to bring them up in UK or here? hmm….
