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Singapore\u2019s total fertility rate (TFR) has long felt like a slowly sinking vessel, one that policymakers have been trying hard to patch.<\/span><\/p>\n Early this year, another new TFR low and measures aimed at stemming the decline were announced. We have now hit a historic low of 0.87.\u00a0<\/span>Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong described it as an \u201c<\/span>existential challenge<\/span>\u201d, warning of the irreversibility of the trend.<\/span><\/p>\n As a mother of two children aged 13 and 19, I have been following the developments with a mix of interest, hopefulness and cynicism: Will these measures truly change mindsets and raise Singapore\u2019s flagging TFR by the time my daughters decide to start their families?<\/span><\/p>\n Growing up, I was often told that women <\/span>can\u00a0<\/span><\/em>have it all: children, a thriving career, personal and professional growth, and a healthy marriage. But no one talks about how there are only 24 hours in a day and within those hours, the number of caregiving roles we are expected to juggle.<\/span><\/p>\n Although more men seem to be stepping up, women continue to make up the majority of informal caregivers. About 60 per cent of those who left the workforce due to caregiving needs in 2025 were women, according to\u00a0<\/span>Ministry of Manpower data.<\/span><\/p>\n This does not include women who cannot afford to stop working, even as they juggle informal caregiving. And did I mention that the\u00a0<\/span>White Paper on women\u2019s development<\/span> found that\u00a0married women in dual-income households are five times more likely than men to be managing both household and\u00a0<\/span>caregiving responsibilities<\/span>?<\/span><\/p>\n These invisible demands come at a cost. Studies have shown that female caregivers face higher risks of emotional distress, burnout, financial strain, and less personal savings for retirement.<\/span><\/p>\nBEARING THE WEIGHT OF CARING FOR OTHERS<\/span><\/h2>\n