[whinenot]

Even if it's a wash dollar wise, staying employed often means you get healthcare and retirement benefits AND the career progression that ideally comes with long term stable employment. Trying to hop back on the treadmill after a 5-10 year absence often has a huge opportunity cost on your lifetime earnings.

[sanderjd]

Also, people don't need to be ashamed for often wanting to do their own adult things with other adults. It does not make you a bad parent to not want to spend all your time with your children. Balance is super important, and I think many homemakers find it lacking. Also, children like to be with other children, not just boring adults, and it's actually not that straightforward to achieve that with no daycare / preschool time for them during the week.