[daepp]

My wife is a CPA who quit her job the day before our daughter was born 16 years ago. We now have three children: 16, 14 and 12. She has worked her butt off caring for them. She's been the traditional mom with a twist: soccer mom, bake sales, room mother, scout leader, water polo mom, etc., all while doing a little bookkeeping out of the house.

We talk about her going back to work some day though, probably to pay for college.

And with all due respect, Jeff, it is possible to make it work without two salaries. Not easy, maybe, but possible. Living in the I.E. helps, buying a fixer-upper when we were young, living within our means. And so far, they've spent elementary, junior and high school all in private schools.

No one ever gave us anything of material value. Our parents, however, did give us the example of living modestly, staying out of debt, the value of a stay-at-home parent and a good education.

IMHO of course.