Visiting family and friends in Singapore during this CNY period. Reading news about the government’s white paper on population growth for 2030. Reading on the difficulties of getting Singaporeans to have more babies. Just some thoughts on my mind:
I am not a ‘talent’ that went overseas nor do I consider myself a ‘quitter’... I just happened to meet someone in UK while working short term in UK…. got married and started a family in UK… for my own nostalgic thoughts, my family, my friends, I often had thoughts of returning to Singapore for good with my hubby and kids… but… hmm… being in Singapore now makes me really think thrice….
1) the work culture… how am I going to adapt working long hours and returning home late, not spending a lot of time with my kids liaoz? I really hate to think about it. At the moment, I am able to leave work on time at 5pm in UK, get home at 6pm, cook and have family meals with my family. I think most likely, I will not have this luxury in Singapore… and I will hate it….
2) the competiveness of parents on their children… goodness… my 4 year-old niece in ‘tuition’ and many other children of my friends in ‘enrichment classes’... i just want my 3 year-old and 1 year-old to have a happy childhood!! I can understand the parents’ anxiety about their children lagging behind when they get to P1, but I really want MY children to have a happy childhood like I do! .....I would not like to have this ‘stress’ on me…hmm….
3) child care…. with my own parents getting old, there’s no way they can help… i know i can get maids, put the children in nursery/infant care etc…. but if I want to have more than 2 children, the financial burden will be too much…. if I look after them myself, then my husband will have to work harder (longer hours??!!) and there will again be sacrifice on his part on family life…. hmm…
These are all in my mind when I am here now in Singapore observing the whole issue… i love children and would love to have more than 2 children… but to bring them up in UK or here? hmm….

I am still stuck in SG 

If I am you, I will not even consider Singapore.    If it is the Singapore of yesteryears,, yes to it.    Now what we have in Singapore is a spoilt brat , irresponsible, and arrogant PM who cares only for money making and fulfilling his own desires at the expense of the people.

UK, at least they provide welfare for the people.      

i am all for TS raising her kids in UK. there's an issue of NS and what nots. For optimal child development, best to stay put in UK.

hmm…. the thing is, I do miss my family and friends in singapore….. pros and cons of living in UK as well…. welfare comes at a price – middle income person like me needs to contribute about 30% taxes… and I always feel like a foreigner here….

Originally posted by sacredspirits:

hmm…. the thing is, I do miss my family and friends in singapore….. pros and cons of living in UK as well…. welfare comes at a price – middle income person like me needs to contribute about 30% taxes… and I always feel like a foreigner here….

well, in singapore, we do feel like foreigners in our own country.   Foreigners make up 40 percent of the population in Singapore.    Many jobs are given to foreigners, that is why in recent years many singaporeans have difficulty finding jobs.

Companies rather employ foreigners from some kind of unrecognized universities than local singaporeans.     Low skilled and professional jobs are given to many foreigners.

Originally posted by sacredspirits:

hmm…. the thing is, I do miss my family and friends in singapore….. pros and cons of living in UK as well…. welfare comes at a price – middle income person like me needs to contribute about 30% taxes… and I always feel like a foreigner here….

if the pappies have their way for the white paper, it will be lagi worse. singaporeans becoming minority in their own country is worse than what u r having in UK.

whatever u decide to do ultimately, please leave some leeway for yourself and your kids in the UK, should things got worse here in sinkieland. people like us want to get out also cannot, so please treasure the global mobility u have. Dun ever ditch away your and your kid's UK passport.

I concur with kengkia.

Many of us want to get out of Singapore but we do not have the means.    You have the privilege of living overseas, treasure it though I know times are pretty bad there in UK.     Somehow, I believe the economy there will turn around.

Good luck to you.         

Things will be better in the UK, and the rest are right. You have an opportunity that many many people don't have. You should grab it with both hands! Having lived overseas for awhile, i can tell you life is so much better.

I know what you are going through while living overseas…as you said, you don’t feel like fit in overthere and you miss your family in Singapore, but I think your spouse and children do feel at home there. So, if you think about your children…I think you just be there and you will feel better once the economy there picks up again.

If you really so desperate to return home to Singapore or just to be close to your family in Singapore….then you be on your own without your spouse and kids…you want that to happen?

thanks for all the views…. i am actually still holding to the Singapore passport though my children have dual citizenships at the moment (they will need to renounce one when they get to 21).... in a way, i know i sound selfish in wanting to return to singapore for my own wish of being with my family n friends…. i think the ideal situation may b to win the lottery and b able to own a place in singapore to ‘test’ for 6 months to a year…. maybe then i will know where i ‘belong’... hmm…..

Originally posted by sacredspirits:

thanks for all the views…. i am actually still holding to the Singapore passport though my children have dual citizenships at the moment (they will need to renounce one when they get to 21).... in a way, i know i sound selfish in wanting to return to singapore for my own wish of being with my family n friends…. i think the ideal situation may b to win the lottery and b able to own a place in singapore to ‘test’ for 6 months to a year…. maybe then i will know where i ‘belong’... hmm…..

Do you have sons or daughters?

daughters…