>>> Well ...
A mother who grew up being taught that KILLING your kids is a sacred right (or rite) might consider doing that.<<<
I think women have more choice than ever before. And it is having a negative effect on happiness. As any choice you make closes the door on other paths your life could have taken. And then you start to think the choice you made to settle down and have kids isn’t the good one: Because you’re not happy and fulfilled.
IMHO women would be more happy as a group if they were simply expected to get married, keep a home and raise kids. I see women, an ex-wife up close and personal too, try to do it all. It’s exhausting and you can’t do it all well. But these women are raised to believe otherwise. And that sets them up for dissatisfaction. Just my humble opinion as a male chauvinist ;)
Mrs WBill did this. Worked part-time a couple of evenings a week - more to get out of the house, than to make any money - but more-or-less dropped out of the workforce to raise WBill Jr.
IMO, it's the smartest decision that we made. I'm more than a little jealous, I missed out on a bunch of important kid stuff. But, someone needs to keep the bills paid, too.
However - the amount of scorn and derision that she received from people for making this choice.... Former co-workers and friends, especially .... amazed even a jaded guy like me. "How could you stay at home while women are out there competing in the..." blah blah blah, you get the idea, take whatever the latest feminist mantra is and spin it up. Even her own MOTHER gave her some static - "Are you sure that you'll be happy and satisfied, dear? Really Sure? Positive?" That really blew me away.
Fortunately, my lovely wife has the self confidence to tell them all to go to hell. :-) One of the myriad of reasons why I married her.
I figure that it's mostly guilt. My lovely wife has everything that they want, they dislike her for it, and want to drag her down to their level. Crabs in a pot, all of them.
And, I never understood why anyone would need to work too darned much in order to be "happy and satisfied". I've never said, "Jeez, I just need to spend more time at the office, and away from my family!"