My project manager came into my office this morning to tell me she’s stepping down to become a stay-at-home mom. She makes $68,000 a year. Her husband earns $72,000. They just had their second child, so she called licensed local daycare centers to get quotes for an infant and a toddler. Average cost: $2,650 a month. That’s $31,800 every year straight out of their post-tax income. After federal taxes, state taxes, and healthcare deductions, her take-home pay was roughly $3,700 a month. After paying $2,650 for daycare, she was working 40 hours a week to net $1,050 a month…..or about $6.50 an hour. She looked at me and said: "I’m literally spending 160 hours a month away from my kids just to clear $250 a week after childcare costs." We didn't just build an expensive economy. We built a system where holding down a mid-class job as a second earner costs more than staying home.