Not always a decision to raise the kids. Up until a month before I married ex-wife she had worked in a good career. She went on leave a month before the wedding, never returned to that job or any meaningful career. We were childfree and she was choosing to work part-time because she had decided she didn't want to work much anymore.

This was not my decision and it was a huge stress to the early part of our marriage. I had the whole financial burden of the couple, and I didn't even have a house wife since she wanted 50/50 chores.

Luckily my country doesn't have alimony. I do pay a significant amount of child support despite having the children more than her but it doesn't bother me too much.