I grew up in a pretty big family as well, there are 5 of us, and my family was living at bare minimum too. I got along well with my siblings, there was lots of laughter and funny moments. But we couldn’t afford some of the opportunities that we wanted. I rmb the insensible primary sch me asking my parents to let me go for piano or ballet lessons after seeing my friends performing, but was told that we cannot afford. Even for my sports CCA, I had to pull out cos of the fees incurred, and switched to a club that won’t incur fees.
Moving to sec school, I couldn’t join my friends to eat outside school cos fast food was considered expensive. My friends would go for occasional movie trips, but I did not join any cos it was expensive, plus as the eldest, I have to go home to take care of my younger siblings. I had difficulty integrating into my circle of friends since I can’t hang out.
I started doing part-time after JC and all the way through uni, in order to fund my own expenses in school. I was asked to forgo a major of my choice and opt for a more lucrative one as I am expected to help out with family finances when I start working. In order to juggle work and studies, I couldn’t actively participate in CCAs. While others form friendships and networks in uni, I was pretty much isolated.
Having started work for a couple of years, my savings have been limited since I took over the allowance and expenses for my youngest sibling in poly, plus some other bills. My boyfriend and I has been dragging our BTO plans in order for me to build my savings.
I love my family and I know my parents tried their best to care of us. I feel very very bad for thinking this way, but I always thought about the missed opportunities and social life due to financial constraints. While I grew up with useful house-chores and babysitting skills, I would hope to have picked up some other skills ie sports, music during my childhood. I mean, who will want to spend their childhood doing chores and babysitting.
I’ll probably get bashed for this. People would say I should be contented and there are people out there who are worse off. Yes definitely, I don’t deny. I’m not saying that the children in the report will feel the same way as me; they might grow up feeling that their childhood was perfect for them. But I feel that there should be a balance between wanting alot of children for a merrier family vs being able to afford a childhood that your children want. After all, childhood is very short-lived and we won’t get to live through it again.
Just a rant.