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I'm interested in this. I too am heartbroken at the thought of going back to work. I've spent many days crying about it over the last couple of weeks. We can make do with out my income (I do make more than DH tho), but it would be a major adjustment for us spending wise. I think I can get used to spending less tho. I start back at work in Feb and I'll be part time for a little while, but then will have to be full time and there's no option to work part time. I will be gone 7 am - 6 pm b/c of my long commute. It sucks!

I'm definitely going back to work, but considering quitting possibly this summer. I really don't like my job and the thought of going back to a job I dislike and missing out on all that time with my son breaks my heart. I'm thinking about going back to school to become a teacher. I would just need to take all the tests and credential classes and be a SAHM in the mean time. I'm so conflicted. If I quit my job now, I'll be pretty much throwing away my engineering career or at least it would be difficult to get back into if I quit for a few years. I don't have my professional license yet, so that's another thing.

Anyways, sorry about my ramblings. Can you tell I'm having a hard time with this? I just wanted you to know that you're not alone in wanting to go back to work and then quit. When do you have to go back? How long do you think you would work before quitting?

I'm actually looking forward to going back to work in 2 weeks. I know LO will be well taken care of, and I have missed the adult interaction. Plus, I have some fun projects to work on.

@highwire: Not there yet and currently don't have an issue as I will be a SAHM for as long as we can (or I hope to transition to be a WAHM). But in my industry (fashion), I saw PLENTY of women leave for maternity leave and say they were going to come back. Most didn't. They would call and say they decided they didn't want to come back. OR, quite a few came back for a short while, and then quit. I think it's more prevalent in my industry because the pay sucks and childcare in this area is really expensive. At least in my experience, the income potential of us going back to work was slightly better than just being a little more frugal and staying home yourself.

Like @MungBean, I spent the majority of my leave dreading going back to work. Also an attorney and have a stressful job. I took 5.5 months of leave and basically had panic attacks for 2 weeks before I went back. I spent very little time away from my son during leave (an hour here or there). But, I wanted to at least give work a shot. We could have made me staying home work, but probably would have racked up some debt (which is sort of a non-issue b/c my husband's salary will increase by x10 in a year and a half).

The first week back to work was really hard. I cried a lot. 3 months back now it's still really hard sometimes. I work 4 days a week, but am out of the house 11 hours on those days. My son goes to daycare 3 of those days (my mom watches him the other day). It's not all sunshine and roses but he really likes daycare and I think as a first child, the daycare experience can be very beneficial (since he gets all of the attention in the world at home). He is sick a lot, but that's par for the course. There are also days that I really enjoy being at work and like having a life outside of poopie diapers, nap lengths, milestones, and milk intake. I obsess a lot less about little issues and really enjoy my time with my son. And, I can even run out and do an errand or two at lunch or grab a coffee on my own terms while at work.

I'm not sure what the long term future holds, but for now, we're making it work.

Chin up, and good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I, like other people mentioned, dreaded going back to work. I don't need to work, we can live off DHs salary no issue. However, it will be a set back in my career and to be honest I enjoy the lifestyle we live and it would be rough adjusting. I'm currently trying to find a more flexible work arranagement and hope to move eventually to part time. Our son goes to daycare and besides the being sick and not napping great, it's been great for him. He loves the interaction with little kids and he does lots of fun art projects and is learning sign language.

My sister-in-law did this. She was actually a teacher, and even though her day was only 7-3, she didn't like leaving her son with a nanny all day. She worked for one school year after he was born, but it was too difficult for her to go back the second year. They cut back on expenses, and she took a course on medical transcription. Now she does medical transcription from home after my nephew goes to sleep to make a little extra money. She has never been happier.