“There was a time when though it meant less money for many things, mom’s stayed home to take care of the kids and be there for them.”
Not really. Back when mothers could stay home with kids was pre-feminist movement. Men’s jobs easily supported a middle-class family. Once feminism reared its head, that stopped. Employers were free to pay men less because their wives were bringing home part of the bacon.
Plus it doubled the available supply of labor. And Economics 101 states that increased supply means lower costs.
“Men’s jobs easily supported a middle-class family.”
That was not true in our case. But my mom managed things so as we kids did not know the difference.
Except they didn't.
Average maybe. With a great deal of belt tightening you might make it as one of the working poor but you were in no way middle class. To be middle class you usually needed to be a professional, business owner or middle management.
Of course as a kid you do not realize that. I recently was looking at our old address and realized that we were not even close to middle class. In fact we had lived in a slightly better "bad part" of town. And that was with Dad working nights and Mom working days.