I have learnt much these past seven years, having raised my three children, who are now 13, 11 and six.

I hope female MPs who commented on single-income families meant what they said and will help this group by revamping the outdated tax structure.

The main grouse I have with regard to the tax system is the move to have maids replace the mother at home so mum can go to work.

I do not believe this will make Singapore a less materialistic or more gracious society, not when maids are 'priced' much higher than 'priceless' stay-home housewives.

Maids are paid close to $300 a month and tax relief claimable by working women is double that, that is, almost $600 per month (in essence, it means both the levy and the maid's wages qualify for relief).

Compare this with wife and children relief, which works out to $167 a month per individual (granting the wife and children the same amount of relief is already questionable).

Objectively, can one survive on this amount?

This article was first published in The Sunday Times on May 25, 2008