Anonymous wrote:Lifestyle obsession is also a hurdle. Diamond ring, fancy proposal and lavish party makes engagement an expensive thing. Dress, wedding bands, music, wedding venue, flowers, food, bachelorette/bachelor parties, rehearsal dinner, hotels, flights, honeymoon etc etc add up to a small fortune.

All that is about a wedding, not about a marriage. If you're old enough to get married you should also be mature enough to only care about the marriage.

It's not my place to be in the business of my nieces and nephews beyond what they want to share. For my own kids, if my daughter wants to give birth to her own child, I could see myself becoming concerned if she is 35+ because I have seen the ordeal friends have gone through. If she doesn't want kids that way, then it's a different story.

Anonymous wrote:is funny they blame they don't have money, but my granddaddy was born doing the great depression he had 7 siblings.
everyone had over 5

It was easier to raise 5 than it is to raise 2. Consumerism has made parenting really expensive. Just college costs ate enough to stop donut hole families at 2.

is funny they blame they don't have money, but my granddaddy was born doing the great depression he had 7 siblings.
everyone had over 5

i hope they at least have kids.

To be fair in our south asian cultures its worse and with additional factor of dowry, people drain their retirements.

Weddings need to be simplified.

Lifestyle obsession is also a hurdle. Diamond ring, fancy proposal and lavish party makes engagement an expensive thing. Dress, wedding bands, music, wedding venue, flowers, food, bachelorette/bachelor parties, rehearsal dinner, hotels, flights, honeymoon etc etc add up to a small fortune.

Anonymous wrote:This country is not conducive for family values.

Unfortunately

Not really. My kids are young adults. We have modelled a good marriage and family for them, so I know that they would want to get married one day. My focus has been in making sure that they understand the amount of work that goes into a marriage as well in raising a family. They should also be self-sufficient and be "marriage worthy". Parents can give the guidance but at the end of the day ACs also have to do their part.

At the same time, as a parent, how much support I am willing to give them in this climate? Can we expect an average 30 year old be able to pay the mortgage, pay for childcare, pay off their student loan etc on their own? This country is not conducive for family values.