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Akai is a joke. They did not send our medical report to the embassy for the interview

I agree, not all the time. But I can guarantee you that more people send their kids to daycare than stay home. The daycare industry is booming, and every family different place different things on their needs. I know families that both parent work and send their kids to day not because they can afford but it is the means of survival,. If one spouse stays home, although no day care cost. They will be living pay check to pay check. With no absolutely extra money to buy food etc. To some people is a means of survival.

Not necessarily.

Two weeks ago, one of my directors submitted her resignation after discovering she is pregnant with her second child. She decided that staying home with her 1yo and going through this pregnancy without the pressures of her job were a priority for her. She indicated she may restart her career in five years or so.

Her job paid her approximately 175k per annum, so it isn't always about the money. Money comes and goes. Very difficult to recoup lost time with a child.

I can understand your frustration with the maternity leave as a friend of mine and his wife who he brought from Canada are having now. When it comes down to the maternity leave, it all depends on how much you make a year. Obviously someone that makes $100,000/ year will not sacrifice that money to stay home to save for daycare cost which is roughly $12,000/year for 1 child. On the other hand if you make $30,000/ year and your spouse makes a decent income, it is much rather better to stay home as mom to take care of your two children.

Currently my friend will have his wife stay home once, he gets promoted. Financial it is much better for them.

So this has been a pain point since before moving to the US. I knew that one of the sacrifices we'd be making is the 52 week mat leave in Vancouver (Canada) versus a measly 16 weeks in California.

My husband and I have been talking about it a lot lately. We're planning on starting our family in about 2 years. When I started working again, I was lucky to get back into the same industry at the same level I'm use to. However, now that I am in a 'nesting' frame of mind... I realize that I want a career or a way to contribute to our family, but it's important that I raise our children. We looked at day care in our area... it'd cost us $3000+ for 2 kids (depending on age). We want to have 2 kids and I have a huge history of twins in our family (my mom is a twin). It's not a confirmed thing that I'd have twins but knowing I'm at an increased probability, we are planning on multiples.

When we bought our home, we made sure that all expenses could be covered on one income. The other persons income would be put in savings or travel etc. We are doing okay right now. Flexibility is a huge thing... the lack of mat leave in the US has really pushed me to think about starting my own business. My husband supports me and believes I should do my own thing because I've done it before and he believes I can rebuild it here. We sometimes laugh that if I were to work a standard 'job' (8-5, 5 days a week) that i'd be working to afford someone else to take care of our kids.

The struggle is real.

So I'm interested to hear what other Canadians have done when it came to having kids after getting married and moving down here.