To determinedmom -- thank you for you great info. All of our kids ARE in school. Kng, 2nd grade, and 4th grade.

And yes, I wish she had a real JOB, but she does not trust daycares and even if she did, she says we can't afford it with the little money she would make with a real job. She has no college. She did graduate from HS.

And yes, I think her idea of making money cleaning homes and businesses is unrealistic.

Our plan was to take on some debt so she could stay with our kids until they were all in school. Then she was going to get a real job and we were going to knock out that debt. But, she many excuses why she 'can't' get a real job...

Even the daycare argument does not float because I teach at the same school that my kids go to. So, rarely would we ever need somebody else to watch them. And on those rare occasions, I have friends that have said they would step up and help . . . She knows this . . . but still holds on to her 'cleaning business' idea. I think it is so she can have 'flexibility' to take care of our kids if need be. Or, to go to their school events. Again, a luxury for the rich and responsible of which we are neither.

'Six figure debt'. Wow. Did you consider bankruptcy? If not, why not? Thanks.