Normally, one of the many reasons why people get married is to have kids legally, to procreate, to pass on their good genes (or DNA). It seems many Singaporeans do not share my normal thinking. If you read the papers in Singapore, you will find that the Government tries hard to give incentive (baby bonus, tax cut, extra maternity leave etc.) for them to have more babies...
In my current company, we conduct polling for more than 100 countries every year with more than 100 questions about well-being. "Did you feel happy yesterday?" is one of the classic questions. I am part of the polling team for Singapore. Basically, I check the questionnaire, ensuring that there is no missing question for Singapore. Next, I help the data processing. What I will share here is not the detail statistical insight, as I was not in charge of matching the raw data... I will talk more about my analysis on the raw data that I processed. There are parts for people with children and parts for married people with no children.
Why do you decide not to have children?
The top most mentioned reason is high living expenses, including high education fees.
OK, yes, Singapore has managed to raise her world ranking into the Top 10 most expensive city to live in. But then, when you do really love children, money will not come in the way, right? Or am I too naive to say that? For education fees, I beg to differ. Singapore is not as expensive as the UK or the US for university tuition fee, CMIIW. But then, it only applies if you are smart enough to get the admission to NUS, NTU, SMU.
The second reason is about TIME.
Typical answer will be: there is no time for children. Long working hours, bla ba, or egoistically they will say: we want to enjoy honeymoon time with our spouse, we don't want to spend time for babies...
Oh well, TIME is about compromise. We all are given 24 hours a day. It's up to you what you want to do in that 24-hour timeline a day. Yes, if both parents are working, children can be lacking of parental attention. Again, the key is the compromise between husband and wife. If you can live with one man's salary, why not? There is no need for branded stuff... But again, I don't think Singaporean will buy my reasoning. They are all very into branded goods, although they go into debts (those who work in the banks know this very well).
One good reason I remembered was: we don't want to make our children stressed. The schooling system here is too stressful. I agree with this. Singapore's education system is too mechanic and leaves almost no room for creativity :P
Why do you think people want children?
Majority will answer this: Because they want their children to take care of them when they are old. HAHAHAHHAH. This is so typical... Confucianism or egoistic? If you have children just because you don't want to die alone when you are old... SIGH. I really can't digest why Singaporean thinks that way.
Another answer I remembered was: because of the religion. For goodness sake, you don't have children because of the religion. If you want children, it is because you LOVE having children. You want to share your happiness with your children, the same as you have been some sort of happiness to your parents.
Greetings from Singapore
ILUSTRASI FOTO-FOTO DOK REDAKSI
MODERATOR - Penggagas KoKi : ZEVERINA
Pembaca "KOLOM KITA" (KoKi) entah di Bontang, Inggris, Bali, Belanda, New Jersey, Kuwait, Australia, atau di Kediri, silakan berbagi peristiwa seputar kehidupan sehari-hari. Kirimkan artikel dan foto melalui form "Kirim Artikel", jika mengalami kesulitan kirimkan melalui email: temennyazev@gmail.com ; kokizeverina@gmail.com
Jika anda jalan jalan di Malate Manila, banyak sekali squater dgn anak2 kecil tak terawat, malnutrisi, tanpa pakaian. Kesan saya org tua yang mau beranak dan mentelantarkan anaknya, adalah tidak bertanggung jawab. Salam
Posted by: Ki Ageng Similikithi | Senin, 26 Juli 2010 | 06:52 WIB
Nowadays is not easy to take care of the children.
It needs 2 persons, mom and dad, to raise them.
You have to know well your spouse: does he/ she like to have children? Is he/ she good with household tasks? The point is you need your spouse to help you otherwise you will be miserable.
*Yunisa : When I was much younger I did really want my own children as a part my own flesh and blood, but then , more often the fact is in the contrary. When I decided to marry my husband we have a compromise between us by not having children, He (in this case) has a very strong reason not to have more children from whoever he marries to, by having his own two children from his previous marriage are more than enough. on the other hand, I had to shallow the difficult fact I have to face, in the end, I thought I had no choice except to compromise and to make a peace with fact that I didn't like very much, but then again, my love for my hubby is unshakable, nothing I could do but to say yes, and now,,,I think I am quite happy with my decision.
Posted by: jinjer fm Oz | Selasa, 29 September 2009 | 12:30 WIB
@PDD: Om, ini kolom KoKi English bukan KoKi Seksologi haahha
@Om Sirpa: Congratz udah jadi no. 1, Om PDD terpaut 3 menit hahaha
Normally, one of the many reasons why people get married is to have kids legally, to procreate, to pass on their good genes (or DNA). It seems many Singaporeans do not share my normal thinking. If you read the papers in Singapore, you will find that the Government tries hard to give incentive (baby bonus, tax cut, extra maternity leave etc.) for them to have more babies...
Typical answer will be: there is no time for children. Long working hours, bla ba, or egoistically they will say: we want to enjoy honeymoon time with our spouse, we don't want to spend time for babies...
Majority will answer this: Because they want their children to take care of them when they are old. HAHAHAHHAH. This is so typical... Confucianism or egoistic? If you have children just because you don't want to die alone when you are old... SIGH. I really can't digest why Singaporean thinks that way.
.jpg){kind=small}
