Family & Parenthood 02 (Jan 10 - Aug 10)

[winston]

Ha Ha ...

And today, I have also managed to convince the older boy, to also go down to the orphanage tomorrow

[millionairemind]

Congrats W...

I hope they will learn something from it.

[winston]

Most parents, when they see children not terrorized by the things that terrorize them, they work very hard until they've finally got you terrorized.

They teach you those irrational fears. Well-meaning, but they do just the same.

--- Abraham

Excerpted from the workshop in San Antonio, TX on Saturday, April 20th, 2002 #474


Source: abraham-hicks.com

[millionairemind]

This is probably the most touching clip I have seen on family and filial piety. Perhaps our young should watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybxNkpS5q-g

[millionairemind]

I took a train downtown this morning. The total journey was about 50mins.

I was seated next to a couple with an infant in a pram. They look like they are in their late 20s. The girl was sleeping soundly.

Throughout the 50mins journey, both the father and the mother each whipped out an iPhone and played games throughout the journey, never exchanging a word.

They don't look like they are angry with each other... perhaps this is their way of interaction...

Maybe I am reading too much into this... with the pervasive invasion of technology, it seems that we are now all ALONE together, living in our own world, while we are next to each other.

With so little communication, no wonder the divorce rates is going up in Singapore.

[kennynah]

maybe they are communicating thru their iphones...playing a shared game... bluetoothing each other ... hahaha...

lucky the baby didn't wail.... i had sufficient instances of babies crying non-stop in MRT... super irritating...

[millionairemind]

Published June 23, 2010

Fertility rate hits record low in 2009

By FELDA CHAY

SINGAPORE'S fertility rate hit an historic low last year, despite initiatives to encourage people to have babies.

According to data from the government's 'Population in Brief 2010' study, the total fertility rate (TFR) here dropped to 1.22 in 2009, continuing its downward trend. In 2004, the TFR was 1.26, and in 1999 it was 1.47.

Chinese continue to have the lowest TFR (1.08), followed by Indians (1.14) and Malays (1.82).

Just 39,570 babies were born in Singapore last year - an 8.7 per cent drop from 43,336 in 1999.

'Singapore continues to face significant population challenges, brought about by persistently low fertility rates and consequently an ageing population,' said the government report.

'We will continue to adopt a three-prong approach of supporting more Singaporeans in getting married and having more children, facilitating the naturalisation and integration of suitable foreigners and engaging overseas Singaporeans.'

The report also shows Singaporeans are having children later in life. The median age of female citizens giving birth to their first child increased to 29.6 years in 2009, from 28.6 in 1999.

Overall, the fertility rate of people in the prime child-bearing age group of 20-34 declined between 1999 and 2009. And the peak child-bearing age group shifted to 30-34, from 25-29.

Between 1999 and 2009, the median age of citizens at first marriage increased to 29.9 years from 28.4 for men, and 27.4 years from 25.9 for women.

Another trend that looks set to continue is the rising number of single people. The study found 41.9 per cent of men and 29.8 per cent of women aged 30-34 were single in 2009.

This is significantly higher than a decade ago, when 33.2 per cent of men and 21.7 per cent of women aged 30-34 were unmarried.

[millionairemind]

Its easy to say you value family.... but action speaks louder than words.. and from what I see around me, the family unit is disintegrating in Singapore.

un 27, 2010
Family valued here: Survey
By Kor Kian Beng

The vast majority saw it as their duty to care for their parents, while some in this group said nursing homes here were too costly or poorly managed. -- ST PHOTO: NURIA LING

PACKING aged parents off to nursing homes is a no-no for most Singaporeans, who also believe that aged parents, regardless of any faults they display, should always be respected.

A sizable 87 per cent of 1,500 Singaporeans and permanent residents polled for a survey on family values said they would not consider placing parents in nursing homes.

The vast majority saw it as their duty to care for their parents, while some in this group said nursing homes here were too costly or poorly managed.

This inaugural survey by the National Family Council (NFC) wanted to guage the relevance of five family values - first drawn up in 1993 - after some 20 years of economic and societal changes.

It found at least 80 per cent of respondents supported the values: love, care and concern; mutual respect; filial responsibility; commitment; and communication. Another positive sign: nine in 10 cited family as their top priority, followed by work and friends.

The findings on attitude towards family and aged parents was heartening for Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng, who is leading efforts to tighten legislation and give more effective support and protection to older parents who are neglected by their children. 'These show that filial piety is strong and a trait that Singaporeans want in our society,' said Mr Seah.

[kennynah]

The other day, I was on a coach to nowhere(read, I'm not giving details). On it was a family nucleus of 4, 2 young boys n their rather aged parents..

They spoke england.. The youngest looked to me abt 5.. From the start of the journey, I knew I was in for some eyesore.. So, my expectations set right from engine ignition:)

the father started nannying the youngling.."gary, u comfortable?"..."Gary, u feeling cold?".."Gary, is your game working alright"... Not before coddling all of the fella while the mother couldn't care less n went on with her movie..

Soon, that old man, got up from his seat, went over and helped laid the meal tray before his son.. First adjusted it length wise n vertical wise just so the boy could juggle food n gameboy... Wat a funny sight...again the mother simply bo chup.. Damn cool the mother...

Then, old man poured coke in a cup, brought it to boy's mouth n fed him while our young fren focused on monitor screen trying to secure points...

I casually looked back n saw this middle aged woman staring with disdain... We kinda caught eyes... felt connected...Wahahaha.

If every son is brought up like dat... Seng Kah Por early late HK liao one

[millionairemind]

hahaha...

K - I must say your observations is spot on and not that unusual..