Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Family with 4 small children

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Family with 4 small children

At Yio Chu Kang stadium, I saw a family with 4 small children, possibly aged 5 to 12 years.

The parents appear to come from humble background. They spoke in Mandarin. The mother appears to be a homemaker.

How do they manage to survive in the high cost environment in Singapore? I can only make a guess.

They probably have simple needs. They take the family to jog round the stadium. It's free.

Maybe they do not need to spend money on private tuition. The children appears to be quite well behaved and are willing to go to the stadium with the parents.

Perhaps, they are showing that it is possible to have a different lifestyle in Singapore.

6 comments:

Thomas Phua's Blog said...: I came from a very trying childhood my father failed in his business being swindled. My mum bears the burden of paying the loan. From a housewife, she has to undertake to be a cleaning lady for a few offices. I know what is poverty, selling bread door to door earning 10 cents off each loave, that was 30 years ago.

Last week, I met a client in a McDonald's in AMK, a group of about 7 Primary 1 or 2 kids were taking their lunch having each a set of meals.

One of the boy spoke in Mandarin telling another boy he is a poor boy and has no money one, only drink water, go seat the other side. This side is for got money people ( in mandarin ).

After they left, I saw one of the burger left behind with just one bite.

Some kids today are simply spoiled to the core, sorry for my comment. I wonder how their parents instil virtue and values into their children, and the children can talk and behave like this in the public. This simply reflects the parent's upbringing of a child.

I like to bring up my own children to know values of life. Respect others and empathise with others.

Thomas Phua; March 11, 2007 4:15 PM
Sentosa Gani said...: I believe it is possible to survive if people have simple lifestyle. Tuition and such are luxury and people can live without them =); March 11, 2007 9:47 PM
Edwin said...: Hi,
Singapore has always focused on educating the young for the future.

It looks like all the text books and theories that has been delivered in class has gone to waste.

However, one cannot forget that learning does not occur just in the class room only.

For this case, parents play an important part when brining up their child. The way I see it, an upbringing of a child is a reflection of the parents of who and what they are.

Hence, my question will be this,... do we need to teach our children the value of money when they are in school?

How do we make our young ones learn and understand the value of a dollar without teaching?

Edwin; March 12, 2007 5:35 PM
Anonymous said...: It all boils down to parenting; March 14, 2007 5:53 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; March 14, 2007 8:23 PM
Thomas Phua's Blog said...: I think this topic has nothing to do with a pay of CEO.

It is a matter of practical living.

If you are not a CEO , please do not live like one.; March 15, 2007 5:54 PM