The author concludes the passage by asserting that: “one thing will never change: fathers and mothers, if you have children, they must come first. You must read to your children. And you must hug your children. And you must love your children. Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House, but on what happens inside your house.” In context, therefore, the anecdote about the complaining husband reinforces the importance the author attaches to cherishing “human connections,” particularly those within the immediate family (“what happens inside your house”). In the story, the wife’s remonstrations offer a critique of the general tendency to view childcare as a chore (“babysitting”); instead, the author suggests that caring for “your own kids” should be viewed as an opportunity to make one of “the most important investments you will ever make.”
1 million is 1 x 10^6
1 billion is 1 x 10^9
1 trillion is 1 x 10^12
So 12 trillion miles is 12 x 10^12 which converts to 1.2 x 10^1 x 10^12 = 1.2 x 10^13
