I remember talking to one of my teachers in college. He and his wife both had careers until their second came along. At that point they figured her entire salary would be going towards paying for childcare and that it would be better for them and their children if she stayed home full-time.My son is in full time daycare. My wife works full time as a teacher. Financially, it still works out in our favor to have both of us working. Of course, that is only paying for a single kid in day care.
Yeah, we're looking ahead to that situation. Hard to make decisions ahead of time. For my sister in law, the financial cutoff was 3 kids.
I believe it is very similar to the magic fairy dust that makes you want to have a kid in the first place. Perhpas you and MrsFooter haven't encountered a potent dose of it.Unless there is some serious magic fairy dust that comes after you get issued a kid I don't see either of us wanting to do that.
Dual income needed? Here is a good test: this year when you figure your taxes with a dual income, go back and do it again with 1, 2, or 3 kids and single income as a set of hypotheticals - huge deductions and tax breaks for kids, as well as paying at a lower income bracket. Then add up the cost of the second income; clothing, commuting costs, lunch, day care, phone costs, and anything else it costs to work.
One kid is debatable, but once there are 2 or more kids, most people that have actually taken the time to estimate the above exercise realize the second job can actually cost them money, in addition to the sacrifice to their family.
There are other reasons to keep jobs, and this can change dramatically depending on the income levels earned, so I'm not saying that everyone can raise a family of 5 off a single income, but at least a serious look should be taken at it both ways before making assumptions.
My daughter never spent a minute in a crib. Always on my lap watching Sponge Bob while I did my computer work. If I needed to go somewhere I tag teamed with the wife. On the road she would be with us in the hotel room with the wife. If I did work in ballrooms she was in the room with me. All that was 18 years ago. Last week she was at the board with me when we did a Kabuki drop. I let he shoot the drop to expose a 100K vehicle. I also let her shoot the confetti hoppers. Sort of a Take your daughter to work day - SHE LOVED IT. She said she never had such an adrenaline rush, having all the "pressure" of shooting the effects at the exact moment.
I like that you point out that the flexibility of homeschooling allows you to spend time with your kids even though you work an unconventional (in the larger world) schedule.We also homeschool our children (since my oldest was in fourth grade), which allows me time with them.
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