I don't know anyone who left the workforce after their first child and stayed out until their children were out of home. Most often, they started returning to w

I don't know anyone who left the workforce after their first child and stayed out until their children were out of home. Most often, they started returning to work in the first year after the birth, and repeated the cycle for each child. Children would have an impact (on every job category), but I don't think it's as extreme as you say. Part-time roles would be a thing before talking about decade-long gaps, IMO.