Man, when I listen to my mom tell me all the things she does for my sister's kids, who she's raising, it boggles my mind, and makes me a little jealous.

With all she's doing, there's no way those kids can't not succeed in school, yet it's a level of effort that really precludes having a career. Engaged, stay-at-home parents amazingly raise the quality of life, not just of kids, but of entire neighborhoods and it's one of those things that you can't fake or buy cheaply.