The pace of life, transactional thinking, work pressures, caregiving load and mental health concerns all shape why fewer couples are choosing to have children today. Beneath Singapore’s low TFR lie deeper societal and cultural shifts that couples feel keenly within their marriages and family decisions.

June hosts married couple Ethan and Naomi Lim as they reflect on why starting a family in Singapore can feel increasingly daunting — and how couples can navigate these pressures together. Ethan, who works in the real estate industry, and Naomi, a mental health counsellor and co‑founder of Kindred Haven, share honest insights into how fast‑paced living, demanding work cultures and social expectations intensify the emotional load of parenting.

Beyond finances, they highlight invisible struggles such as caregiver guilt and the quiet fear of “not doing enough”. The conversation invites couples to reframe parenthood as deeply relational rather than purely practical, reminding us that no one parents well alone. When community and shared responsibility are present, the journey becomes lighter, kinder and more meaningful.

You can also listen to Ethan and Naomi as they share, "Should We Have Another Child?"

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Kindred Haven is a social impact venture that provides compassionate, evidence-informed support for parents from pregnancy through early parenthood.

Through workshops, community spaces, and therapeutic support, they create gentle, psychologically safe environments where parents can feel seen, supported, and less alone. Their approach is trauma-informed, relational, and inclusive of both mothers and fathers, holding space for the often unseen experiences of this season. www.Kindredhaven.org

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Build your early years of marriage with Connect2 Just Married! Designed to equip couples married for five years or less, this programme helps you learn key skills, clarify expectations, strengthen communication, and navigate differences and responsibilities with confidence. Grow a strong foundation and keep the romance alive as you journey together. Find out more at www.family.org.sg/C2justmarried.

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