This week is the long-awaited March school holidays, but I cannot savour them and revitalise my extinct social life because my boy came down with Covid. I cannot even feel bitter about this situation because he was legitimately suffering from a high fever for the first two days.

But I’m really exhausted. Scrapping the bottom of the barrel in terms of morale and energy level. There are only me and my wife; we have no plans to hire a nanny; we just got to do our best every day. 

So, as with many other countries, the Singapore government offers monetary incentives for couples to reproduce and have children in order to arrest the failing birth rate. Specifically, I have received the Baby Bonus and the Parenthood Tax Relief. Singapore has high costs of living and her citizens always lament about Money No Enough. Which is why people assume that the solution to the lack of kids is to provide money.

If my experience is anything to go by, I think I’m not so concerned about money. But I mind terribly how parenthood encroaches on my personal life. I just want to meet my friends for gatherings and watch frivolous movies and view avant-grande exhibitions. But I can hardly do that now. 

So when a Discord user suggested that I should have more kids because the 2nd and 3rd kids will gift me $10k and $20k in terms of Parenthood Tax Relief respectively, a brainwave came to my head. If I apply empathy-centered design thinking on my situation, what I need is a community whom I can seek help from. Kind retired people who don’t mind helping me babysit my kid for an afternoon. Students who wish to be childcare educators in future. Fellow parents who don’t mind taking on one more kid to offload their dog-tired peers.

If the relevant authorities can prototype my idea with certain communities, who knows? Maybe my idea will take on a life of its own and generate enough momentum to be implemented nationwide! A struggling parent can only dream. 

I know this comes across as a rant. It’s nearing midnight, my boy is asleep beside me, and I just want to pen down my (unworthy) thoughts before I forget them in the morning. Thank you for reading.