[baxtr]

Agree 100%.

People say it’s the cost. But what’s way worse is the effort and time you need to spend for every child.

A normal couple, most often with both having to work, will be at their limits to provide for more than 1 child - constantly.

A couple can’t replace the village unless they have tons of money.

[llm_nerd]

I am lucky that I do consulting through my own company, setting my own schedule and availability. It would be impossible otherwise.

Just as one small example, daycares/schools will call for you to pickup your kid -- blowing up your day -- at the slightest indication of illness. With four kids going to school, this means two to six+ times a month your day is going to be completely blown up at any moment. I'm not complaining (though when I was a kid if you had a bit of a stomach ache you chilled in the nurse's office for a bit and 9 times out of 10 go back to class), but the average person cannot accommodate this without quickly finding themselves unemployed. This is just one of a million cases where two working parents and few or no supports leave you in a precarious situation.

[rootusrootus]

I remember the feeling of relief when my kids left daycare for the last time (I just have two, though). Partly because the massive reduction in cost, and partly because of the ease in scheduling my day. And it's just gotten better as they've grown a bit older. Now in middle school, they get themselves going in the morning and then get home in the afternoon just before 5pm. I've pretty much forgotten all the scheduling we had to do around nap times, daycare, etc.

I got lucky in a sense, when covid came along and sent me home permanently, it makes dealing with kids so much simpler. My wife and I both work from home now, and schedules are a breeze.

[baxtr]

True that things have changed on the child side as well. I remember being by myself for long stretches on any day.

Parents today not only have lost the village but are also expected to be with their children more.