re: When men worked and women took care of the family. Are we better or worse?

It's a mix. On one hand, both of my parents had to work and weren't there a lot. OTOH, I wouldn't trade being a latchkey kid for anything. They couldn't afford day care, so I walked home from school, made a snack, and did whatever I wanted for a few hours. Starting at 8 years old, I was even left at home alone all day during the summer. I'd get my chores done, then do whatever, including going for an unsupervised swim. My parents rarely even knew where I was from 1982-1992, but they knew that I was resourceful and would always make it home before dark. As a result, I've always been halfway feral and completely self-sufficient. Also, being alone doesn't bother me a bit. I think that helicopter parents are a large part of why kids are so soft these days.