The ignorance is astounding.
Quality time is a scam. Time is all that's necessary. The kids are probably each others best friends. As the older children are able to help the younger, it frees the mother from the mundane things such as baths, diapers, laundry and allows her to spend time with the kids. each kid.
College is not likely to be much of a problem either. Scholarships abound, start with community college to get the garbage classes out of the way and then move on to a university. A local university is better as you're not dropping $10,000 a year on room and board. Or, as an alternative, the father, a real estate exec. can purchase a small home near the university for his kids to live in while attending college. Save thousands and have an investment at the same time.
Good post, thanks. You said it much better than I did.
My mother always said the HARDEST years of her life as a parent were when there were only two of us. After that we were able to help out, and certainly entertained one another!