[exstudent2]

I think this is sadly a cultural thing. My wife comes from a culture that really values being a stay at home mom. She gave her career up to be at home full-time to raise our child and I've never seen her happier (but more tired :).

Our peers are for the most part American born and have a very different view. The moms obsess about missing out on their previous careers and living life as they did pre-children. They seem much less happy (as do their children).

In large parts of the world raising kids is "doing something with their lives", just not in the US.