My brother lost his job during the oil bust of the '80s. He had a degree in mechanical engineering, but couldn't find a job.
His wife had a degree in computer science, right when that field was taking off.
My brother stayed home. He died last year of cancer, but when he was alive he was a man's man. He was very outdoorsy, and loved to hunt and fish. He was also very athletic.
He was also a very big Bush supporter, and was sending out e-mails to people supporting President Bush until only a few months before he died.
It really was a blessing that he got to stay home with his kids because he died when he was only 49.
I'm sure his children have better memories of him than a lot of children who go their entire lives without ever really knowing their fathers.