Quote:
Originally Posted by DeezNutz
Depends what the lesser-paid spouse (typically the woman) makes. For example, if she's making $10 per hour and the husband has a strong, salary position, it might make more sense, all things considered, for the wife to stay home because she wouldn't be earning enough to justify the high cost of daycare and the other ramifications.
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THIS
I have related this here before but this seems like a good place for a reprisal of my experiences. This is not about who made more money, that has never been an issue. It is about having a stay-at-home wife/mother. After our third child was born, money was an issue for us. I worked 2 jobs for a while to get us through but after a couple of years my wife went to work to help out. This allowed my to work just the one job which was a nice relief. At the same time though, I found myself busier helping out around the house. I got home before she did so I did most of the cooking. By the time she got home, dinner would be on the way, there might be laundry going and I would have gone through the kid's paperwork from school that day.
We did this for a couple of years and then I got an opportunity to earn enough more income that they wife didn't have to work. Having her staying home took more pressure off of my than I realized I had taken on. Now when I get home from work, I am home. No worrying about cleaning or cooking. I have more time and energy for my kids or working in the garden or just playing on the computer. I also have more time and energy for my wife and my kids have an adult available to them at all times. We have raised our kids for the most part without farming them out to a daycare which we believe has given them a stronger foundation to build upon.
I am and will always be a strong proponent for having a stay-at-home parent. It is not for everyone but I think those who have never been there have no clue the positive difference it can make in their lives even considering the reduced income levels.