CHILDCARE
KAR PENG: Higher childcare subsidies for second and subsequent child. Also, more affordable centres. It would help, too, if centres can open past 7pm.
Seriously, are there working parents who can knock off at 6pm, zip through the rush-hour traffic and get to the centre before 7pm?
JEANMARIE: If we want to have more than one child, we should extend the incentives for children beyond the infant stage.
Can the $300 subsidy for children 18months and above be bumped up to $600, which is the current subsidy for infants below 18 months old?
SETO: It would help if large companies, particularly those where the employees work odd hours or night shifts, have childcare centres.
Also, make enrolment for childcare centres easier.
We've just applied for half-day childcare to start in May at a centre near our home. Even though the centre doesn't even open till March, it is already fully booked!
Surely there can be a simpler and more streamlined system for childcare enrolment? How about a centralised database that allocates according to demand for a childcare centre that is nearest the parents' or the grandparents' homes?
WORK HOURS
SHI'AN: "Lights out" time at work. My bosses have been incredibly supportive in deflecting late assignments from me, but there are times when there's no choice because information or events for stories I'm working on come in late.
On such days, the 11/2 hours in the morning before I drop baby off becomes the only time I see her. If I have so little time to devote to one child, how can I devote my attention with two?
SETO: More companies to have flexi-work hours, where mothers can do some of their work from home, say, two or three days a week. Some ministries have started implementing it, which is a good thing.
But if companies decide they want to do this, it should be fair - mothers should be paid only for the actual work they do.
SUPPORT FOR DADS
JEANMARIE: To ease the burden of mums during maternity leave, dads should be given more paternity leave, like a month.
And instead of giving six days of childcare leave regardless of how many children one has, it will really be a carrot for single-child families if the number of days of childcare leave increases accordingly with the number of children one has.
JOANNE: Supportive bosses. Understanding bosses are very important, especially if you're the designated soccer mum! Thank goodness I have bosses who are mothers themselves!
SHI'AN: "Breast is best", but do offices provide enough support for working mums to express breast milk?
I'm lucky - Singapore Press Holdings provides a nice nursing room with two cubicles, comfy chairs, a dedicated fridge for breast milk and even cute baby posters!
IN-LAWS AND HOUSING
SETO: More subsidies for young couples to live near their parents. Currently, there is an income cap. How about doing away with it totally?
ENCOURAGING POSITIVE MINDSETS
JEANMARIE: My motto, though not a very practical one, is "don't think, just do".
Even though I already find it exhausting to take care of one toddler, I always tell myself everything will sort itself in the end.
Perhaps it's because I receive tremendous help from my hands-on and capable husband, parents and maid, which relieves the pressure and allows me to focus on my job.
JOANNE: Nothing is impossible - with help, that is.
Never be shy to ask for help when situation calls for it.
Also, better time management. As we don't have any help with housework, my husband and I split household chores on Saturdays and try to get everything done when Elliott has his afternoon naps.
SETO: More baby-friendly places / changing areas.
Things have improved, but I think it's still not enough. While most malls have baby changing facilities, they are often very out of the way (useless in a diaper emergency), poorly maintained or, even worse, inside a toilet cubicle.
Many malls or landscaping for some mall entrances also do not factor in prams.
A more patient mindset from others. A one-year-old will scream and cry in public. He just doesn't know any better and as much as I believe I am a strict parent, scolding him won't make a difference.
So if I'm seated next to you at a restaurant and my son squeals, he's merely excited about his food. No need to stare daggers.
I think you're the one who is mistaken here. "Mummy" is the British variant of "Mommy". The latter is used mainly by Americans, a child's word to refer to mother. Both, in fact, are variations of spelling, referring to the same, which is "Mother".
But yes, "Mummy" can refer to an embalmed body too, in the manner which you speak of. How the word is used will be dependent on the context in which it is used.
The English language can be very challenging. Perhaps you'll find out more by revisiting your dictionary again.
Mommy: Mom, Mother.
No wonder Singaporeans have such flawed English skills. garbage in garbage out