I think the answer to truly find meaning in work in our life, no matter what that is. Whether it is looking after children, secular work, volunteering etc.
You see, in all the despair of Genesis, God gives us hope.
Hope is found in Genesis 3:15.
He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heal.
Proto evangelion (the 1st gospel)
This is the first promise of redemption, an ambiguous text, but a promise of the person to come who would bring salvation.
The person who the women would bring forth and the one who would crush the head of the serpent and the serpent would bruise his heal.
Pointing to Christ the one who defeats Satan and Satan bruises His heal by the crucifixion.
But Christ has victory with the resurrection.
That is the only way not to despair in this life.
Jesus is the way the truth and the life.