You're welcome, Airheart!<P>I just figured that you might be a little bit like my H was--just seeing the gross amount of my paycheck.<P>For instance, back in the days when $180/week was good money, I figured it all out. After taxes, I took home about $130/wk.<BR>After daycare, I took home about $90/wk. Factor in another $30/wk for gas (I had a gas guzzler, 'cause H is a big guy and can't stand a small car) and another $10/wk for lunches/snacks, etc. and I took home $50/wk. Then, after figuring the extra cost of buying clothes (rather than making them), cleaning, and convenience foods/eating out when I was too tired to cook, I figured that I was clearing maybe $25-30/wk, and that wasn't even considering the extra taxes we paid on my income, which pushed us up into the next tax bracket. Oh, WOW!! I was really making <B>good</B> money, wasn't I? [b]NOT!!{/b} But, until I laid it out for my H in black and white, all he could see was that I was making $180/wk. And, to top it all off, I was having to do the bookkeeping for his contracting business (not an easy task when I had to search his truck for receipts and he would forget to tell me when a customer paid him, etc.) on top of taking care of two toddlers, doing all my own housework, cooking, laundry, etc.<BR>And, all the while, I think it's possible that my H was already out "running around."<BR>Oops! I'd better be careful! That tends to make me seethe!!<P>Anyway, it doesn't always make sense for both spouses to work when they have children.<P>I hope everything works out well for you and your wife. Sitting down and TRYING to figure it all out should at least help her to understand that you do care, even if she can't quit work right now. If she can't, maybe the two of you could set that as your goal ina the future.<P>Anyway, if I helped in any way, I'm glad.
