Is the wife entitled to reclaim some of the money she spent on her home, husband, and children during her period of employment, despite her husband's shortcomings in providing for them?

The husband must spend on his wife. If he refrains from providing the obligatory maintenance, she has the right to reclaim what she spent on herself during the period of his abstention. The maintenance is considered a debt owed by the husband that is not forfeited except by payment or discharge. As for maintenance for the children, if the wife spent what was obligatory for the husband and intended to reclaim it from him, she has the right to demand it, because it is in the nature of a loan. However, if she did not intend to reclaim it, it is considered a gift.