I'm 36 me and my wife had our own apartment and nice cars and a okay job right out of high school. We had our first child 2 year later, my children are now 13 and 10. I had a few jobs over the course of a few years but i always upgraded (pay and benefits), then my old man got me in his shop where i am now which is higher then average pay for manufacturing, ive been there for 16 years now. I don't mind my job, sometimes i even enjoy it but sometimes the long hours and work place politics gets to me. About 6 years ago my wife decided she was sick of working in a factory and decided to go back to school but didn't really land a job till last year, and i still make more than her. Even though i think she is happier now, the financial side of it has not paid off(yet). Five year ago she quite her $13 a hour job to go to school, we now have $30K in student loan debt plus the lost wages over a 4 year span and she now makes $17 a hour. Has far as my kids go i'll let them stay at home as long as they are in school or the military and once they are done with that ill give them i little time to get started, but ye they are not just going to milk me for years like some kids do now days.