Elsewhere in The Straits Times Forum, it was suggested that the 'Supernanny' series be aired again (Oct 3) and the very same day, we read of acts of mindless vandalism and young people challenging those who challenge their anti-social behaviour.

My view is Singapore's children do not need a supernanny as much as they need mums and dads who dare to be consistent in their way of dealing with bad behaviour, right from a very young age.

We have one child who started testing the boundaries from as soon as he could walk. When told he was not to go beyond a boundary due to possible danger, he stood at the boundary and threw his toy into the forbidden area. He thought this would give him the excuse to go in there to retrieve his toy. (Sorry, sonshine, think again.)

His 'terrible twos' lasted from age 18 to 36 months. This, I believe, is the best time for parent and child to bond. Within the security of a consistent disciplining framework, a child grows in confidence. Of course, someone else could enforce that discipline - if you wish your child to bond with that 'someone else'.

As a nation, we need to re-think the issue of farming out the nurture of our next generation to non-family members who may or may not share the same values we hold, whether these impinge on religion (or other spiritualities), work ethos or morality.

Some of us are very blessed in finding maids who share our values, and with the support of grandparents, these children are doing reasonably well. Others are not so 'lucky' (if one believes in luck).

For young mothers with or without a glittering career, do note that children are only young once. As the saying goes: You can bend a young plant, but not an old tree. Once we missed the window of opportunity to be there for them and form life-long friendships with them, they are gone.

For employers, I plead for better understanding that there are very intelligent women who have decided to concentrate on child-rearing for a while but they, too, have much to contribute to corporate life. It is a smart employer who chooses to make it easier for such women to return to work after years of full-time mothering.

It takes two to tango and I think returning mothers must also understand that they cannot expect everyone to bend over backwards to accommodate them. They cannot expect not to lose 'seniority' after a long career break. However, an intelligent employer would reward results and not the hours at work (or hours seen at work).

My seven-year-old son has been told by a classmate that because my son refuses to invite him home, this other boy would take him to the park and whack him hard until there is blood everywhere.

This other boy has spent much of his young life in paid care. The family flies off to exotic places every school holiday, and sometimes this boy misses school because of that. Otherwise, he returns to full-day 'holiday camp' while his parents work.

Are those exotic holidays and a semblance of a glamorous career and the expensive cars with personalised number plates worth more than the life of one's own child? How does a seven-year-old acquire such venomous thoughts in the first place?

A British politician said last week that Britain has become rich in its economy but poor as a society. Has Singapore already gone that way?

Dr Lee Siew Peng

Middlesex, UK