I refer to the letter “Larger homes needed for larger families” (May 19). While I understand the writer’s call, I feel we should also reflect on how previous generations coped with far less space during much tougher times.

In the 1960s, I lived with my parents and siblings in a two-room rental flat. There were 11 of us altogether, enough to form a football team. During those difficult years, we even sublet one room to a single tenant for a period of time to help make ends meet.

Life was certainly not easy and privacy was almost non-existent. Yet we adjusted, supported one another, and eventually most of us grew up to own our own flats and raise our own families.

Ironically, many families today start by seeking bigger flats when their children are young. But once the children grow up, get married and move into their own homes, the parents often plan to downsize to smaller flats.

In many ways, it is simply a cycle of life and changing needs.

While modern families understandably desire more space today, especially with changing work arrangements and caregiving needs, we should also be careful not to equate larger homes with the solution to encouraging parenthood.

Strong family support, resilience, responsible financial planning and realistic expectations also play an equally important role. In land-scarce Singapore, it may not always be practical or sustainable to expect significantly larger homes for everyone.

Top stories

Explore top stories from all sections in one place

Singapore

NDP 2026: Bigger venue and three new songs, but no Red Lions, mobile column in this year’s parade

Business

Singamas shares plunge after US DOJ allegations against CEO Teo Siong Seng

Business

Who is Teo Siong Seng, the shipping scion facing allegations of fixing container prices?

Singapore

Study finds paternity leave has no impact on Singapore couples’ decisions to have more children

Asia

Mount Dukono guide named suspect for negligence after fatal hike in Indonesia

Singapore

Number of Covid-19 cases rises to 12,700 in Singapore, CDA monitoring increase in infections

Singapore

Singapore’s bystander problem: Would you stop a molester on the MRT?

Singapore

Man holding 2 hacksaws at Bukit Batok carpark arrested

Perhaps the focus should be on keeping housing affordable and accessible, while encouraging families to adapt sensibly according to their needs and means.

Gabriel Chia

The timely Opinion piece “S’pore depends on migrant workers. Why do we accept conditions we would never tolerate ourselves?” (May 19) provides a comprehensive overview of the issues faced by migrant workers.

The whole subject looks complicated and thorny, which may explain policy paralysis. Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) has long proposed several practical measures that will make a huge dent in the issues that the commentary highlighted.

Migrant workers are constantly in fear of losing their jobs and being repatriated at the whim of their employers. They have to tolerate all sorts of salary or overtime abuses.

We cannot afford a system that waits for workers to raise complaints.