Your story unleashed some old, buried emotions. Even as a stay-at-home mom, I had these thoughts. And when it (unfortunately) came to our divorce, the time I spent at home raising OUR kids was dismissed as a luxury that cost me nothing ( according to his majesty!) As much as I am thankful for being able to be at home with my kids as babies, it significantly impacted me professionally, and I will pay for it financially in my retirement. As much as it pisses me off, my kids are wonderful humans and that is the "pay-off" that could never be matched financially