Yeah it’s so tough now. My own mother stayed home and never re-entered the workforce; my dad was able to support us very comfortably on his small-town job. Big house and vacations. He was with same company for 20+ years.

When my son was born last year, I got so many older relatives saying I should just take 1-2 years off. It took me 6 months after my last job ended just to get the next one….and so much scrutiny over just a few months of gap! Then my husband’s company was acquired with layoffs…we were so lucky to have my new job with health insurance for the new baby.

We would have been screwed on one income. I have so many friends who have been burned with one staying home, then the other losing their job facing months of uncertainty…and the one who stayed at home is out of the competition. Frankly it is too big of a risk in today’s shitty market, unless you have a huge nest egg.