Being a stay-at-home parent is a huge sacrifice. You’re putting your career on hold, and while the rest of the world keeps turning, you’re devoting your energy, time, and entire life to a tiny human. It’s no small feat, but it’s one that often gets overlooked. This man, who was the optimal choice in his marriage to become the stay-at-home parent, was a little reserved about relinquishing his career, but his breadwinning wife didn’t see it that way.
If you were fortunate growing up, one of your parents was a stay-at-home guardian. This was a societal norm at one point in history, as single-income families were boasted, and the economy was healthily growing. Alas, in recent years, even surviving as a solo individual, free of roommates, parental aid, or government assistance, feels impossible—and that’s without the added financial burden of children. Kids are expensive and require a lot of time and care, so assigning one parent to be the stay-at-home parent makes sense—if you can afford it.
However, the greatest cost of being a SAHM or SAHD is the future growth of your career…