Children can invoke feelings of joy, gratitude and fulfilment, but also thoughts of fatigue, financial stress, and lack of personal time? Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. For the first time ever, the resident total fertility rate (TFR) dropped below 1, hitting 0.97 in 2023. Singapore's replacement TFR rate meanwhile stands at 2.1 - the level of fertility at which the population replaces itself from one generation to the next. The instincts to procreate, it seems, are varied and personal, as hosts Sarah Koh and Aqil Hamzah - journalists from The Straits Times - find out from their guests.  For Ms Charisse Grace Agustin, 29, being childless was a decision that she made at the age of 18, while still a junior college student. Mr Sng Shan En, 27, on the other hand, is already a father to a three-year-old, with plans for more children in the future if his wife wants them. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 The advantages to having children younger rather than older 6:00 Heartwarming moments vs. material sacrifices of having children 10:17 The future regret in not having children 16:22 Would the government’s push for babies change your decision? 18:46  Is parenting a 50/50 effort between mom and dad? 21:04 Would higher cash incentives nudge more towards parenthood? Produced by: Aqil Hamzah ([email protected]), Sarah Koh ([email protected]), Lynda Hong, Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified of new episodes: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt  Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb  Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  Feedback to: [email protected]  Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH  Read Aqil Hamzah’s articles: https://str.sg/i5gS  Read Sarah Koh’s articles: https://str.sg/CzpH --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u  In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt  COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE  Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7  Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN  Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf  Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m  Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE  #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad  Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX  --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa  --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T  The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2  Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn  Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB  Singapore’s War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa  --- Get The Straits Times’ app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB  Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX  --- #inyouropinion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.