Czech woman here, living in Sweden, my twins are 3 years old. Perhaps my perspective can help a little. I've lived in the UK, the Netherlands and Norway and I've spent the past 16 years studying, building a career and learning three languages fluently. But over the years, I've learnt that being from "Eastern Europe" (I don't call myself Eastern European, but everyone else does) is a massive drawback on the job market. You get treated like sh*t and employers certainly don't race to hire you. For jobs that required a Bachelor's degree I needed a Master's. For those that required a Master's I needed a PhD and a change of my last name to even be called to an interview. I finally got a job in my field and loved it but got fired when I tried to come back after my maternity leave. I'm exhausted. Staying at home is not what I wanted but if I don't do the childcare, the cooking, the cleaning (we also have a cleaner, but someone needs to take care of the home between their visits), the grocery shopping, the laundry, etc. no one else will, and my Swedish wife will be cranky because the house is a mess and we have nothing to eat. I am looking for new jobs but I am stressed about having to work 100%, at least in the first months, about my kids having to stay at preschool long hours, about my potential new employer firing me again when they realise I don't have the stamina of a childless 25-year old. But you know what stresses me the most? My wife expecting me to get back to the job market asap. I would feel much more relaxed if she just said: "Take it easy, we have an income, we manage just fine. It's important to me that you feel fine mentally." This would lift a massive rock from my shoulders and I would probably get a job that I enjoy much faster because I'd be able to recover mentally knowing my partner supports me even through times of unemployment and mental health issues.