Deciding to RE to be a Stay at Home Parent

My husband stayed home with the kids - once between jobs after a move and then intentionally a few years later when I got a better job.

Given how busy I am at work, I am super thankful we did this. He did all the during and after school things (I went to some), joined the PTA, volunteered at my kids elementary (strongly desired as my child #1 was a difficult kid - this helped get to know the teachers), does laundry and "acquires" food (we should really cook more).

The year when the youngest was two was hard on him - new city, no friends, cranky kid.

But the second time around has been great. He's gradually accumulated some friend groups - tennis and volleyball with guys who work but have irregular schedules, some online buddies for gaming, and some other social interests.

He's stayed home through the kids' high school and I do sometimes think "what the hell do you do all day?" And now child #2 is a Junior. But at this point he's been out of the job market 12 years and it doesn't really make sense for him to go back given the difference in our salaries. And I know he does more than I realize; thats just life: everyone feels they do more than their share of the chores

Plus don't discount how much time teenagers take.

As far as FIRE, I'm new to the sub but have been trying to save as much as I can. I'm 47 and have over a million saved, but plan to help a lot for the kids college (state schools, so far have still been able to save even with one in school). So its hard to project out for sure. I don't want to RE so much as have the ability to cut back to 75% time, ASAP actually.

Probably as soon as child number 2 gets through or partly through college (so max about 5 years away).

/r/financialindependence Thread