Forum: Beyond public campaigns, parents must be open about the joys children bring
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I refer to the article “ When did conversations on parenthood and fertility become such a downer?
The writers suggest public campaigns highlighting the meaning and joy of parenthood as a way to help reverse Singapore’s declining fertility rate. However, such efforts may face a deeper obstacle: what children observe growing up.
Many young adults witnessed first-hand the struggles their parents faced while raising them. They remember hearing worries over academic performance and about the sacrifices their parents made. Even as they appreciated their parents’ efforts, they often felt pressure to meet expectations.
In many Asian families, parents also tend to express love and pride less openly. As a result, children may grow up seeing more of the burdens of parenthood than its rewards. When they become adults, they may question why they should repeat what appears to have been a stressful and demanding experience.
Public campaigns alone cannot shift this perception. Parents, especially those with young children, can play a powerful role by speaking more openly about the joy and fulfilment their children bring, rather than focusing mainly on the hardships of child-rearing.
Doing so may help young people develop a more balanced and positive view of parenthood from an early age.
Lee Yim May
