Ironically, a successful woman <em>can </em>provide for her kids in many ways—if that’s what her partner was looking for. A successful mom can pay for childcare, and for things like ballet lessons and that expensive prep school. But, to the chauvinistic man, that’s not what it’s about—he wants his partner in the trenches with the diapers.
Again, if you’re in a serious relationship, then your finances affect his finances. Furthermore, if you plan on getting married one day, then your debt becomes his debt. So he probably doesn’t want to just learn that you took out a major loan without even consulting him beforehand.
It’s important to know if the man you’re going to align your life with has good money habits.