I'm skeptical that falling birth rates have much to do with the demands of a dual working household.
Look at Europe which has significant maternity and paternity leave, subsidized daycare and free college. Lots and lots of support for young parents.
Yet birth rates haven't really budged.
I think it has more to do with the expectation of how much effort to raise a kid has drastically increased.
75 years ago, you'd pump out 5 kids and they'd be independent quite young. By 4-5 years old it was "go find something to do". As long as the kid wasn't failing school, grades didn't matter. If the kid was involved in school sports, they made their own way to events. Parents didn't attend regularly. By the time they were 7-8, they could help with the younger kids.
By the time your kids was a 8-10, it was pretty much "keep em fed and out of trouble".
Today, expectations are way, way higher. Parents worry about what elementary school their kids get into. After school academic and sports activities start super young. Parents want to attend the big events. Then high school and it time to grind. Tutors, SAT prep, college tours, etc, etc. Minimal chores because that would interfere with school and sports.
One kid today is equal to the effort of 3-4 kids 75 years ago.
Look at Europe which has significant maternity and paternity leave, subsidized daycare and free college. Lots and lots of support for young parents.
Yet birth rates haven't really budged.
I think it has more to do with the expectation of how much effort to raise a kid has drastically increased.
75 years ago, you'd pump out 5 kids and they'd be independent quite young. By 4-5 years old it was "go find something to do". As long as the kid wasn't failing school, grades didn't matter. If the kid was involved in school sports, they made their own way to events. Parents didn't attend regularly. By the time they were 7-8, they could help with the younger kids.
By the time your kids was a 8-10, it was pretty much "keep em fed and out of trouble".
Today, expectations are way, way higher. Parents worry about what elementary school their kids get into. After school academic and sports activities start super young. Parents want to attend the big events. Then high school and it time to grind. Tutors, SAT prep, college tours, etc, etc. Minimal chores because that would interfere with school and sports.
One kid today is equal to the effort of 3-4 kids 75 years ago.