As a child, I was a piano prodigy. I entered my first piano completion at age 6. Bela Bartok. By 18, I was burnt out. I have barely touched the piano since.
I know people who homeschool their children, doing no more than 2 hours of school a day and their children are still at least 2 grade levels ahead in every subject - with their soul intact.
Nothing has worked in fixing birth rates. Financial incentives didn’t work (Hungary), Nordic socialism didn’t work (Scandinavia), restricting women’s rights didn’t work (Iran), totalitarianism didn’t work (North Korea), doing nothing didn’t work (Latin America).
What will work?
My friends never understood why I chose to stay home with the kids either. They told me it was a waste of education. Thing is, my kids got to benefit from my education rather than some random boss.