Let’s have more babies
During a reunion with my former classmates in Sibu recently, I was caught by surprise that most of them have at least 3 kids. Even a close friend who used to be an Air Stewardess with SIA has got 4 kids and one shy cousin of mine has amazingly half a dozen of kiddos!
Back in city life, KL, there are hardly anyone whom I know have lots of children, at most 4 children, and most of them are having 2 children. Why is it that so many intelligent, well educated, well-to-do people in cities are ceasing to reproduce? One factor, clearly, is the decline of marriage as an institution. In cities, young people marry later, or not at all. Many woman thus finds herself childless at age 40 and must, with the clock ticking, start the relationship process over again or give up on the idea of having children.
Nearly everyone knows of some horror story of a friend’s failed marriage, custory battles over the children, etc? Children are expensive. In general, it used to take one income to raise a family, it now takes two. Then there is the claim of career. Whatever the law may provide, as highlighted by Datuk Seri Sharizat in today’s news and however accommodating companies may be, having children may bound to hamper a woman’s climb up the ladder of success.
Then again, the experience of having children, however irksome, expensive, wearying and career hampering it may be, is also thrilling and delightful and full of continually changing facinations. A child lifts the heart and gives meaning to life. Not to have a family is to deprive yourself of half the joys and interest of existence.
In a recent statistic report released by Malaysia statistics department. it clearly shows the trend of falling birth crude rate among us.
Having said that, I am wondering whether it is about time I start to plan for my third baby, to contribute Dr. M’s vision to achieve population of 70 million by 2020. hopefully a princess this time….hmmmm…
