In response to Ms Lee's post on "Increasing Birth Rates", here is my personal take.
I have been well brought up with the notion of "Stop At Two" since young. I was an accidental 3rd child - my parents never planned for me and life was perfect for them with a son and a daughter, that was until I was created. And then all hell broke loose. Firstly, my mom had to return to work immediately after she gave birth to me (no maternity leave for the 3rd child) unless she underwent immediate sterilisation. Secondly, they had problems getting me into the same Primary school as my siblings because of my status as a 3rd child. And then a whole hosts of other disincentives to follow.
Whether its the government's influence or my own personal belief system, having two children seemed a perfect formula. One child for each parent. And so I had two children - perfect? Hmmm... not quite. The perfect formula would have been one boy and one girl. But as all of you can see for yourself, I ended up having two boys! Its retribution for all the evil things I did to all the Marists in class - that I get replicas of them in my family. Arghhh.
So now the question is, should I have a third child and fulfill the government's desire? Do I want a girl? Yes, definitely! Can anyone guarantee me a girl? No, definitely not. By the way, Marists out there who are part of a consecutive chain of 3 brothers, I am pretty sure your parents wanted a girl! So am I prepared to take a gamble to try for a third child, hoping it will be a girl?
Yes: If the current work life arrangements can be more balanced with less stress at work and more time with the family. This means changing working cultures with less competitiveness and shorter working hours. For a start, the immediate carrot or catalyst that will make me take the plunge the third time is "6 months maternity leave". When I had my two kids, I was only entitled to 2 months. And I have always felt I had shortchanged them by going back to work so early and hence the bonding was never strong. Especially these days when my duty upon reaching home after work is to discipline* them for misbehaviour. (*leading to some of you threatening to report me for child abuse)
So, does this mean that I will have a third child? Inference, my dear Watson, inference. (erm, this is adapted from Sherlock Holmes and has nothing to do with Watson Tan from 4F!)
I have been well brought up with the notion of "Stop At Two" since young. I was an accidental 3rd child - my parents never planned for me and life was perfect for them with a son and a daughter, that was until I was created. And then all hell broke loose. Firstly, my mom had to return to work immediately after she gave birth to me (no maternity leave for the 3rd child) unless she underwent immediate sterilisation. Secondly, they had problems getting me into the same Primary school as my siblings because of my status as a 3rd child. And then a whole hosts of other disincentives to follow.
Whether its the government's influence or my own personal belief system, having two children seemed a perfect formula. One child for each parent. And so I had two children - perfect? Hmmm... not quite. The perfect formula would have been one boy and one girl. But as all of you can see for yourself, I ended up having two boys! Its retribution for all the evil things I did to all the Marists in class - that I get replicas of them in my family. Arghhh.
So now the question is, should I have a third child and fulfill the government's desire? Do I want a girl? Yes, definitely! Can anyone guarantee me a girl? No, definitely not. By the way, Marists out there who are part of a consecutive chain of 3 brothers, I am pretty sure your parents wanted a girl! So am I prepared to take a gamble to try for a third child, hoping it will be a girl?
Yes: If the current work life arrangements can be more balanced with less stress at work and more time with the family. This means changing working cultures with less competitiveness and shorter working hours. For a start, the immediate carrot or catalyst that will make me take the plunge the third time is "6 months maternity leave". When I had my two kids, I was only entitled to 2 months. And I have always felt I had shortchanged them by going back to work so early and hence the bonding was never strong. Especially these days when my duty upon reaching home after work is to discipline* them for misbehaviour. (*leading to some of you threatening to report me for child abuse)
So, does this mean that I will have a third child? Inference, my dear Watson, inference. (erm, this is adapted from Sherlock Holmes and has nothing to do with Watson Tan from 4F!)
4 comments:
haha, watson tan, haha
You are not going to have your third child because you said, "I have been well brought up with the notion of "Stop At Two" since young." which show clearly that you "support" the stop at two policy even though it is abolished. and you also said, "Yes: If the current work life arrangements can be more balanced with less stress at work and more time with the family." which shows that you are not very encouraged to have the third child with the current policies and situation because it does not suit your life style.(or teaching style?)Therefore, You are not going to have a third child.
WAS THAT L3? WAS THAT L3?
The purpose of this post is to convince the Marists to have only two children when they grow up. The author is Mrs. Tan Chin who clearly support the stop-at-two policy. The majority audiences are Marists as this blog is the Maris Stella Humanity blog.
This question has got a purpose answer? I have suddenly realised that I forgot about how to do purpose answer....
Did I get L5?
I am in trouble.... (how to answer purpose question?)
Suraj 4B......
Well well well Suraj, I am quite impressed with your thoughts. Let me now assign levels to your answer.
You are partially right: I will not be having a 3rd child with the present state of affairs. However, I can be persuaded to have a 3rd child if the current state of affairs were to change for the better. (Hence, your answer is only able to see one perspective, not two, hence its a mid range level)
Hmmm.. your purpose is not correct. To detect purpose, one must study the author, intended audience and the possible impact. I have no hidden agenda in telling Marists about my thoughts of having a 3rd child (no impact). Marists are not the right audience to persuade as they are too young to think about such things! If any should become a father in the next few years, I would be worried.
Also note that the overall content of my post was not clearly pro-child birth, hence, I cant be convincing anyone to have a 3rd child.
But do keep your comments coming! If I could assign L6 levels so easily at this point in time, I would be out of job. :)
Well, I think if your pockets allows it I bet you would want another one. That's what all Singaporeans think isn't it? Money comes first for all of us. Its natural. Also, I think whatever is affecting you and you having a third child is whether you can handle the extra stress of another little bugger with all his/her whines of new toys etc. It also depends on your personal lifestyle. Its all fits to make whoever you are. Moreover, people these days tend to stick to their own lifestyle even after marriage. They would not budge their personal lifestyle just to gain a little more love from their spouse since they are married and all. What I am getting at is that whoever you are, I think you will not have a third child because THE BUGGERS AT MARIS STELLA ARE WRECKING YOUR BRAIN CELLS AND ALREADY THE STRESS IS AFFECTING YOUR FERTILITY RATES DON'T YOU ALL THINK SO? So I think you will not have one more. Also I bet you love us buggers so much that you wouldn't quit just for another of your own just to send him(if he has half a tick tack) back to the place you quit. Right Mr Wong? (:
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