Wow. Massive generalisation. How many low income families can afford a stay at home parent? The workforce is full of women who would love to stay home but can't afford to.
Yes, Zazou, I am one of them. But the government doesn't pay me a cent and although I would love to remain at home, in order for my DH and I to make our parenting choices I am forced to go to work and earn an income to support those choices.

More than half of my mother's group chose not to return to work as they had a greater income relying on government payments than returning to the workforce and factoring in the cost of child care. A small sample, certainly, but it is a situation I have seen often in my 10 years as a parent.

I'm not sure where the generalisation is, 'often' doesn't generalise?