We took it a step further and homeschooled our 3 kids right out of the gate. Yes, I know, we got all the side eyes or the "how do you even have time to do that?" comments whenever we told people that we were homeschooling our kids. But now we have 2 well-adjusted kids in college (BS Computer Science majors) and 1 finishing up high school with dual enrollment through the community college, planning to go into accounting or finance. The biggest thing I see now is that they are all a real pleasure to be around. When most parents are glad to finally have their kids leave the house after high school - we still have a great relationship with our kids. And there are so many more benefits than I can list here, mostly along the lines of what you (Tim) said in your article about having more family time and not living around a school schedule. One thing I would take issue with the article though, is the role dads play, especially if you have daughters. I have 2 girls, 1 boy, and I would say girls need their dad growing up -- maybe even more than their mom. The problem is that most dads don't realize what a difference they can make in their kids' lives by just spending some time with them.
I couldn't agree with you more. Spend all the time you can with your kids. Time passes so quickly. Parenting is the greatest thing in the world!! God Bless you and your Family.
Tim, I feel this 100%. I've been lucky to mostly work from home. We had our son in daycare part-time from 18 months until pre-K just so I could get some focused work done, and it was still brutal and expensive. Since covid, we've mainly homeschooled through an online independent study charter that gives us about $2,800 a year to spend on curriculum, classes, and tutoring. As parents, we get to help him choose what matters, with field trips, hands-on projects, and fun stuff like rock climbing/jiujitsu/VR for PE. He built a Roblox community with over 3K international members that he co-leads with a Danish boy, and now he's decided to learn to program macros, all on his own, we're not an achievement-driven family. This school year, he wants to do horseback riding for his PE. Last school year, he went back to regular school and didn't like it, there was no joy in learning, just pressure. His teacher told me he was her only 6th grader with empathy. He made good friends, and they still play Roblox or Steam almost every day, but he decided to go back to homeschooling this year. He says he'll go back for high school so he can have a girlfriend. Next month, we're going to the mountains with his grandma and his dog to stay in a cabin and let him fish during the week, and we'll do school around the fun. Life is just better this way. If you're a parent reading this and your kids aren't happy in regular school, check out your state's homeschool options!
It’s wild how expensive daycare is and how little of that cost actually reaches the workers. Families can’t afford it, and caregivers can’t live on it — the system’s broken on both ends.
I think I forgot to mention that my husband and I also made the decision to spend the majority of our time with our children. I was mostly a full time mom during their childhoods.
Congrats Tim and Jules!) I just did my first ever breathwork session last Thursday with your lovely wife.)
This decision you made is huge, and you and your kiddos will benefit in so many ways.
My story: I became a mom in 1986, at the height of the “Women can have it all!” mentality. Once my son was born, not a single person asked me whether or not I was going back to work. 100% of the people asked me “WHEN are you going back to work?”
Fast forward to September 6, 2025, when our youngest (our 37 year old daughter) got married. I’m still reeling from the impact that the wedding weekend had on my husband and me. She understands it all! She publicly acknowledged both her dad and me and the upbringing she had, which helped her become successful as a person and a career woman. She also wrote us private letters with more detail of the same sentiment.
Moral of the story: what you’re doing matters. Not just to your kiddos, but to everyone they will meet.
We also got public proclamations from the groom and the Matron of Honor. They all get it. Cheers to you!!
Note: Public acknowledgement was not the goal. But it sure is nice to know that my daughter values her upbringing.
We have lost employees because the cost of daycare. Are you working to keep up with the Jones or drowning in debt with them. If you pay 2/3rds of a salary for daycare what are you working for?
Tim but what are you doing instead?? Vancouverites suffer exactly the same way, daycare is way too expensive and the BC government has only offered lip service. It's textbook lip service actually as they promised $10/day daycare and only offered it to 5% of families. Regardless someone needs to make an app where parents can trade spots (no more of this 3 kids in 3 different daycares bs), and where daycare centres can quickly select applicants (they struggle with the application process too, following people up etc...). There is a tech solution here...
We took it a step further and homeschooled our 3 kids right out of the gate. Yes, I know, we got all the side eyes or the "how do you even have time to do that?" comments whenever we told people that we were homeschooling our kids. But now we have 2 well-adjusted kids in college (BS Computer Science majors) and 1 finishing up high school with dual enrollment through the community college, planning to go into accounting or finance. The biggest thing I see now is that they are all a real pleasure to be around. When most parents are glad to finally have their kids leave the house after high school - we still have a great relationship with our kids. And there are so many more benefits than I can list here, mostly along the lines of what you (Tim) said in your article about having more family time and not living around a school schedule. One thing I would take issue with the article though, is the role dads play, especially if you have daughters. I have 2 girls, 1 boy, and I would say girls need their dad growing up -- maybe even more than their mom. The problem is that most dads don't realize what a difference they can make in their kids' lives by just spending some time with them.
Tim,
I couldn't agree with you more. Spend all the time you can with your kids. Time passes so quickly. Parenting is the greatest thing in the world!! God Bless you and your Family.
Thx Charles. Appreciate you.
Tim, I feel this 100%. I've been lucky to mostly work from home. We had our son in daycare part-time from 18 months until pre-K just so I could get some focused work done, and it was still brutal and expensive. Since covid, we've mainly homeschooled through an online independent study charter that gives us about $2,800 a year to spend on curriculum, classes, and tutoring. As parents, we get to help him choose what matters, with field trips, hands-on projects, and fun stuff like rock climbing/jiujitsu/VR for PE. He built a Roblox community with over 3K international members that he co-leads with a Danish boy, and now he's decided to learn to program macros, all on his own, we're not an achievement-driven family. This school year, he wants to do horseback riding for his PE. Last school year, he went back to regular school and didn't like it, there was no joy in learning, just pressure. His teacher told me he was her only 6th grader with empathy. He made good friends, and they still play Roblox or Steam almost every day, but he decided to go back to homeschooling this year. He says he'll go back for high school so he can have a girlfriend. Next month, we're going to the mountains with his grandma and his dog to stay in a cabin and let him fish during the week, and we'll do school around the fun. Life is just better this way. If you're a parent reading this and your kids aren't happy in regular school, check out your state's homeschool options!
It’s wild how expensive daycare is and how little of that cost actually reaches the workers. Families can’t afford it, and caregivers can’t live on it — the system’s broken on both ends.
I think I forgot to mention that my husband and I also made the decision to spend the majority of our time with our children. I was mostly a full time mom during their childhoods.
Mary
Congrats Tim and Jules!) I just did my first ever breathwork session last Thursday with your lovely wife.)
This decision you made is huge, and you and your kiddos will benefit in so many ways.
My story: I became a mom in 1986, at the height of the “Women can have it all!” mentality. Once my son was born, not a single person asked me whether or not I was going back to work. 100% of the people asked me “WHEN are you going back to work?”
Fast forward to September 6, 2025, when our youngest (our 37 year old daughter) got married. I’m still reeling from the impact that the wedding weekend had on my husband and me. She understands it all! She publicly acknowledged both her dad and me and the upbringing she had, which helped her become successful as a person and a career woman. She also wrote us private letters with more detail of the same sentiment.
Moral of the story: what you’re doing matters. Not just to your kiddos, but to everyone they will meet.
We also got public proclamations from the groom and the Matron of Honor. They all get it. Cheers to you!!
Note: Public acknowledgement was not the goal. But it sure is nice to know that my daughter values her upbringing.
Thanks, Tim!
Best,
Mary
We have lost employees because the cost of daycare. Are you working to keep up with the Jones or drowning in debt with them. If you pay 2/3rds of a salary for daycare what are you working for?
So, how are you planning to work from home, and what are your future plans with education?
Tim but what are you doing instead?? Vancouverites suffer exactly the same way, daycare is way too expensive and the BC government has only offered lip service. It's textbook lip service actually as they promised $10/day daycare and only offered it to 5% of families. Regardless someone needs to make an app where parents can trade spots (no more of this 3 kids in 3 different daycares bs), and where daycare centres can quickly select applicants (they struggle with the application process too, following people up etc...). There is a tech solution here...