[mulhoon]

This reminded me of work in general, years ago I was thinking how nursery was so expensive. I could try and work harder, earn more, to pay for nursery - or just quit and look after my children. If the goal was making money to look after my children, why make it difficult?

p.s. LOVE the animated header on this blog

[pavel_lishin]

When we had a child, we decided that my spouse should absolutely go back to work, even though that job just barely paid for daycare. But it meant that my spouse could leave the house, have adult conversations, and not have their full life, 24/7, revolve around a single thing.

[microtonal]

FWIW, in some countries it's very normal for both parents to work part-time. E.g. both work 32 hours, so that one of the parents can be at home during the afternoon four days a week. Then the grandparents fill the remaining days. From 8:30-14:00, the kids go to daycare (or later school), good for socialization with other kids.

[bbkane]

What countries do this?

[microtonal]

I live in The Netherlands where this is pretty common. E.g. in our kid's class all parents (moms and dads) work and most of them work part-time (stay at home 1-2 afternoons or one full day).

[antisthenes]

It's like the century old fable about the businessman and the fisherman.

Nothing new.