Got married about a year ago. I understand why now our birth rate is so low. Singapore is already one of the most stressed countries in the world.
Coupled with long working hours (again a country with one of the longest working hours), cost of living etc etc. Why is everything here so rigid and conventional?
Work end 6pm but if you leave on the dot, people look at you one kind. Hybrid Work was a norm and now companies are reverting back. Many developed countries had such hybrid Work even before covid while SG had it bcse it had no choice during covid and now they are just reversing it back. Like why can’t we have a breather or some flexibility in this country? Everywhere is rush, everything is serious.
Sch is so competitive and kids as young as 3-4yo are starting with enrichment classes. The cost is insane. How do we young couples even think of having a child? Even a graduate salary (lower tier) for myself and my wife is so hard to sustain. People will say don’t like then migrate.
Why shud I? I was born here and so were my parents. It just feels like a top down cultural/traditional mindset that isn’t changing.
Here are what netizens think:
- Excuses. I have 3 kids. The only thing we gave up was alone time. But it’s up to us to make it work. Sneak in a few dates when they go tuition. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible. The rest of the spending all depends on ur own wants. All children want to play and not go for courses and tuition. It’s always the parents.
- Try and pull down the expectations a little – kids are only expensive if you insist they go Mindchamps instead of PAP. Go kids clinic instead of polyclinic. Instead of focusing on WHY your world sucks, focus on HOW you can make your world better. Not saying it’s easy, but sometimes you gotta stop following the system and create your own path. (Started my own biz, because I couldn’t tahan corporate world. Not easy in early years, but now found back my time) As someone wise once told me… “if you can’t find a solution, you aren’t being creative enough.” So stop looking at Facebook and see your Friends post only the “good side” of their lives. Set realistic expectations, don’t have to benchmark against your ex-classmates, live your own life. I wish you happiness.
- Must go enrichment classes meh? I’m a tutor myself, but I can tell you for sure, many kids don’t NEED extra classes, it’s a WANT. I need food, I pay $4 for a meal. I want wagyu beef, I pay $40 for a slice.
- Life is what u make out to be. Your environment can either be a bonus or a curse. To be born in SG, where you can get anything you want within reach, for me is a bonus. But that comes with a price, your effort. Don’t expect good things without effort. You want a good life, you need to put in the time and effort. If you are complaining about why life is so tough at the age of 20+….I just have to say you have no idea what truly tough life is. At the end of the day, no matter where u live, effort will determine where you are in life