Please don't take this thread into gender flamewar. It's obviously already prone to it—that's no reason to push it into the volcano. Actually it's a reason to consciously post otherwise, as the guidelines say:
"Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive."
If taking a break to focus on parenting was more acceptable, anyone (man/woman/nonbinary) who wanted to do this would benefit.
Many careers are built around this idea that you spend 5-10 years, with no breaks, in your late 20s and 30s working on something. What if taking a substantial chunk of time off was more common (for anyone)?
Unfortunately, young people also don't have money. That's the time period when many people feel a lot of pressure to accumulate savings -- often, that might specifically be so that they can afford to raise a child in the future.
Acceptance of multigenerational households, living with grandparents, and raising kids there, would be an option and allow people in their 20s to become parents before their careers have taken off. But even for those who have loving and supportive grandparents, that also can be a major strain on a relationship.
> actual equality where we acknowledge that women have different needs and desires
I find your view sexist and disturbing. 99% men would love to take couple of years off with kids as well. But face even more obstacles!