My wife was basically a trail blazing ICU RN after I got out of the military in 1964.
We/she banked most of her RN salary for a down payment on our first home. We moved into our first home when our first born was one week old.
Turned out in our condo area, 5 other women were first time moms/parents. They had been professionals before the first baby was born, like my wife.
They decided as a group to basically not work, to stay at home and to help each other and kids.
The second child for every woman came at about the same time, and a few of the women worked out of their home.
I got tired of the travel and IVY league managers, stepped down from management to be a sales rep in California with minimal travel.
My wife did the same unpaid teacher thing and was ready to get back into nursing, shortly, after we moved to California.
She decided to return to work, when the kids were in the 3rd and 6th grade.
She was hired as a full time lead RN in a busy FP office. She worked in that group for over 3 decades.
Our sons learned how to set a table and prepping the stuff needed for our dinners so my wife or I could prepare the dinners with minimal prep time on their part. One son became so good, he ended up as a professional for decades. My wife could be a chef, and I’m very skilled prepping and grilling
with an outside grill.
The company gave me a great early retirement at age 56.
I did consulting until 9/11, the travel hassle and that event changed my mind. Also, my wife didn’t want me traveling 3-5 days a week. 9/11 was a big wakeup call for both of us.
My main job after then was managing our 401 K’s/IRAs and mortgages on our home and most of the basic upkeep.
We both got really involved with our church and other good charities. Since Covid, that has basically disappeared.
Our travel bug went out with 9/11.
My wife retired when her MDs retired in 2013.
We had minimal problems/issues with our various role changes in our adulthood.
So, we are in fair health in our 80’s and enjoying what we do and don’t do.
Lives well lived.
I wish you many more years together.