Indeed, over the course of the 20th century, typical American parents spent more time, not less, with their children.24 In 1924, only 45 percent of mothers spent two or more hours a day with their children (7 percent spent no time with them), and only 60 percent of fathers spent at least an hour a day with them. By 1999, the proportions had risen to 71 and 83 percent.25 In fact, single and working mothers today spend more time with their children than stay-at-home married mothers did in 1965.26
The perception given to us by the media is about hordes of latch-key kids raising themselves.
Childcare is ridiculously expensive. Leaving a child home alone is risky, too. It's genetically hazardous if that's your only child.
That basic insecurity leads parents into having large families. Older kids take care of their younger siblings for free. However, it can be at the cost of their own educations. One partner's job suffers from pay disparity, so their job suffers at the expense of household emergencies. Partner B's job pays more, so they can't afford for B to lose work at all, ever.
For single-income homes, this is disastrous.
