It always astounds me of how relatively well-off people simply cannot even fathom how the vast, vast majority of Americans with kids manage to get by without paying $2k/month/kid in childcare expenses.

Sounds very illegal, just leaving kids at home alone all day

OK, I'll bite. Are you a single parent? If so, I agree, but I think most single parents aren't worried about downsizing - they're worried about how to both work and raise their kids at the same time.

If you are in a situation with two parents making a professional level salary, which I suspect is the case given you stated paying $2k/kid/month for child care, well frankly you should STFU. In those cases, that is simply a choice you are making. There are certainly other options (which millions of people do because they don't have a choice), so you're not garnering much sympathy pleading poverty because you have to pay for your children's daycare.