Modern marriage in America

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Ok, they have both gone to university until their mid 20's and racked up umpteen thousand dollars in student loans each.

Then they have to "establish themselves" in their "careers"

So they marry in their early to mid 30's and perhaps even have children.
But they both have to work so the children are put into day care at a few weeks old.

Both of them work long hours so they have very little time for each other or the children.

Now... it gets interesting.

The man is offered a promotion to head up the Chicago branch of his company and the wife is offered a Professorship in Texas.

Now what?

The spouses discuss what's best for the family.

There are also other solutions. When I had my daughter, I stayed home. I know many mothers who do this in my suburban neighborhood. Instead of going back to work, I started my own business so that my daughter never stepped foot in a daycare. There was an article last year (in Newsweek?) about how more and more professional women are giving up their careers to stay home or work from home.

The couple would discuss it, and weigh different factors like how much money each would make in those respective jobs, whether they'd like to live in one city more than another, etc.

That said, tenure-track professorships are extremely rare. If the wife wants to be a professor, they will have to move to where her job will be--that's just how it is, being partnered with an academic.

This. As it was stated, It really comes down to several factors. But as somebody stated tenure-track work is rare, random business jobs are basically not.

But as its been addressed, on an individual basis this is really discussed in detail between the partners weighing the pros and cons. Sometimes it will result in the partners being away from each other.

Though I am shuddering at the thought of suburban housewives, talk about my nightmare. For any woman with a Doctorate this is not really a viable option. So staying at home is not an option, you don't spend 7 to 10 years in college to stay at home.

This is the type of situation that is very difficult for couples.

Definitely not true. One of the moms here is a lawyer and now does consulting from home. Another (an Ivy Leaguer) started a home business based upon her doctorate and LOVES what she does. Both are extremely fulfilled working for themselves and paving their own path. I make way more money with my home business than anything I could have with my grad degree. I devote more love to my daughter and am able to provide her with more material things.

Speak for yourself, this would be my personal version of hell. I guess to each thier own. Then again I am the childfree careerist type.

You go to Chicago because Texas is a cesspool. Done.

Next hypothetical!

Agreed. Texas is a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Ooo! I like that phrase better. Well played!