> and a stay at home parent That's the big issue. Middle class households today need both parents working to afford a decent home, 2 cars, and health insurance

> and a stay at home parent That's the big issue. Middle class households today need both parents working to afford a decent home, 2 cars, and health insurance. Of course many could downsize to a smaller home, 1 car, fewer vacations, etc. But those are the financial trade offs that increasingly fewer couples seem to want to make.