Women: employment or child care?

[SpeedOfSound]

When I raised my kids I was the parent that ended up at home the most because I worked at home most of my career. We reluctantly sent them to daycare when we had to. My wife worked because she wanted to not because of money.

If I had it to do over I would only change the reluctant part. Putting your children in groups of other children and lightly exposing them to other adults is probably the best thing that can happen to their brains and their quality of life. Kids pack up naturally for good reason. In the wild. Unfortunately we have lost the wild-part of our culture. We now have to pay to let them join a neighborhood gang.

but, OTOH, we get to choose the gang.

[eXcommunicate]

They pay less in taxes because they're earning 40k, not 80k.

They are one household under the law.

And, because two people living together more than doubles costs, not an equal increase.

You have to be kidding. Have anything to back that up? I'd be glad to be educated.

I wasn't aware you charged taxes according to a household, I had always thought you taxed someone based on what they earnt.

Well? Any proof that costs "more than double" because two people are married?

[Sælir]

I had twins in May and I will start working next month, when they are 7 months. Ghat will stay at home.
With the cost of childcare when kids are this young (it´s much cheaper when you can get a place for them in kindergarten/playschool around the age of two) it was never really a question. I think this also depends a lot on what the parents are like. I would go mental staying at home with them but Ghat will be fine and wants to do it.
I am very happy that one of us can stay home with them since my son started childcare when he was 6 months and I found it very difficult (even though I loved being able to go back to work at that time).
This also saves us money in another way because we don´t have to pay for an after school program for my son. He can just come home straight after school since there´s always someone there

[kiki5711]

I stayed home with my two daughters for a year before going back to work. I was dying to get away from the house. My mind was starting to draw a blank. All I saw was toys, diapers, food, dishes, diapers, crying, cleaning, etc.....I was going mental. I couldn't take it. I was grateful to go back to work, even if only 3 days a week.