<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Is it so difficult to understand why Sporns deserve to be fxxx by the Familee?
Aug 31, 2008
YOUR LETTERS
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>No regrets about not stopping at two
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I refer to the Stop At Two policy highlighted in last Sunday's article, 'Two is not enough'.
I gave birth to two girls - in 1969 and 1974. My mother-in-law and husband were very disappointed as they both wanted at least one boy.
Despite the harsh penalty of no-pay maternity leave of 28days and no hospital coverage unless I went for ligation, I went ahead to have a third child, who turned out to be another girl!
I wanted to try for a fourth child, but we could not afford to forgo a month's salary, plus no hospital coverage by my then-employer, the Ministry of Education.
So I had to get ligated after my third child.
My husband and I were both teachers, but we have retired and are now in our 60s.
My pride and joy are my three lovely girls, who are graduates earning good salaries. One of them has given us three adorable grandchildren - a five-year-old boy and two girls, aged one and three.
My husband and I have no regrets about having three children despite the hardship in raising them, as teachers' salaries were low.
My husband supplemented our income by giving private tuition, and I was my children's tutor, hairdresser and seamstress.
During those days, children were innocent and not demanding. Enrichment and tuition centres were unheard of. Only the very rich could send their children for piano or ballet lessons.
It was easy for us to bring our children up as wholesome, responsible, well-rounded and law-abiding adults even on a meagre salary.
My advice to young people today is to get married and have babies, as this is part and parcel of our existence on earth. Alice Siew (Mrs)
Aug 31, 2008
YOUR LETTERS
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>No regrets about not stopping at two
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I refer to the Stop At Two policy highlighted in last Sunday's article, 'Two is not enough'.
I gave birth to two girls - in 1969 and 1974. My mother-in-law and husband were very disappointed as they both wanted at least one boy.
Despite the harsh penalty of no-pay maternity leave of 28days and no hospital coverage unless I went for ligation, I went ahead to have a third child, who turned out to be another girl!
I wanted to try for a fourth child, but we could not afford to forgo a month's salary, plus no hospital coverage by my then-employer, the Ministry of Education.
So I had to get ligated after my third child.
My husband and I were both teachers, but we have retired and are now in our 60s.
My pride and joy are my three lovely girls, who are graduates earning good salaries. One of them has given us three adorable grandchildren - a five-year-old boy and two girls, aged one and three.
My husband and I have no regrets about having three children despite the hardship in raising them, as teachers' salaries were low.
My husband supplemented our income by giving private tuition, and I was my children's tutor, hairdresser and seamstress.
During those days, children were innocent and not demanding. Enrichment and tuition centres were unheard of. Only the very rich could send their children for piano or ballet lessons.
It was easy for us to bring our children up as wholesome, responsible, well-rounded and law-abiding adults even on a meagre salary.
My advice to young people today is to get married and have babies, as this is part and parcel of our existence on earth. Alice Siew (Mrs)
