@annepl that's right, we don't know old these women are, who are staying for apparently frivolous reasons, but again we don't walk in their shoes and we know that often fathers do not pay for their children's upbringing and women do often sink into poverty while the father carries on much as before. Even when no children it can still be very hard, a friend at present is trying to leave her nasty husband who has deliberately done everything in his power to put not just as spanner but a whole toolbox in the works, he has had her run up huge solicitor bills, she is happy to take her share of the family home and her savings and leave him with the rest including his pension, and it has nearly caused her a breakdown. If she spends more on solicitors she will have nothing to buy a house with. Possibly these women deep down fear that sort of situation
When I divorced it was accepted that had I not provided the back up that now ex would not have got as far up the career ladder that he did. , so no hesitation in granting me part of his pension.
Very few nurseries back in the day and not the regulation of childminders there is now. When I used to take son to playgroup there was a childminder there, and she was not kind to the little ones she had with her, if not have had her look after my dog tbh. So glad things are better now, obviously not all were like that, a friend likeminded after school children and is have been happy for her to look after mine but no way of telling not the inspections etc there are now if you didn't know them personally