I went this route last week. Good advice.
I showed her my retirement accounts and projections, then showed her my Roth. I am insistent that she open a Roth and max it, which means $458/month out the door, but she would have over $300k at 8% in 20 years (she is still in her 30's while I am 42). Didn't quite sink in to her. I told her another $458/month to her Roth is something I can handle, but it should be hers, financed by her. Seems totally content on my retirement and Roth, etc.
And she has the trump card...she can simply bring up the question of how it will impact the kids. She knows my kids are my heart.
Damn man, she might of very well checked out and it may be a battle then to get her to work.
Wife is in year one of not working while she takes care of our 6 month old. I keep shooting her down when she wants a part time job cause that lil guy is a full time 24/7 days a week job.
Hoping though, once he's in school she'll still want to get some type of income, mainly to boost our retirement.