The linear pay schedule is just an example. The point is that whatever pay schedule you happen to be on, you have to put it on hold to take care of a newborn ch

The linear pay schedule is just an example. The point is that whatever pay schedule you happen to be on, you have to put it on hold to take care of a newborn child, so you will fall behind what you could have had. In economic terms, the opportunity cost of having a child is compounded over the rest of your wage-earning career.