Just to chime in a little. I don't think the implication was "my nan never worked", I think it was more "she never had a 9 to 5". No one in this conversation was trying to say being a mom is easy, so much as they're saying working a desk job is harmful to the soul. While more demanding than a desk job, raising children is also a truly meaningful occupation; like, deep down, meaning of life type meaningful. You don't get "paid", but no amount of pay is worth more than watching your child learn and become a person either. Ultimately I don't think the ease or difficulty of jobs is whats enabling or preventing these people from living a long time. It probably has more to do with a sense of purpose. The article is disingenuous because an overwhelming majority of jobs do not provide a sense of purpose.