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I was a SAHGF turned SAHW turned SAHM. I had a horrible job environment that was really having an impact on my quality of life and one day my boss just really crossed the line and my husband couldn't take it anymore and convinced me to quit and move in with him. I didn't like the idea of being fully dependent on him but I knew we were going to get married and I couldn't stand the idea of going back to work either. Long story kinda short - I quit, three months later we got engaged, three months later we got married, and four months later we got pregnant. My husband always wanted me to SAH and we are very blessed with his career so it worked out for us.

Lack of childcare within a reasonable driving distance. I fully planned to go back to work 4 days a week, but that went out the window when we could only find a center 40 minutes in the other direction of our commutes.

I wasn't making a significant amount of money before babies so when DH got a really good job, we both decided it was best that I'd stay home. If he didn't have the job he does, I would definitely go back to work.
Also, I did go back to work 6 weeks pp but I couldn't concentrate and I missed my little guy too much. I'd always try to leave work early.

I was goin to take a year off with our first on. When I found out our twins were coming I decided I would not be gong back. My teachers salary would not cover three infant dy care costs. But being a SAHM was what I really wanted anyways so I worked out.

I always wanted to be home for at least a year, so that's the plan for now. At my salary, I wouldn't end up bring home much after daycare anyway (Mass. has the highest day care costs in the country, apparently), which is fine with me because there is really nothing I want more than to be home with my LO (um, when the time comes, no LO yet). The plan is that I will be home with each for at least a year, but more realistically until the youngest is in preschool, at which point hopefully I can find something part time or work from home.

@Tidybee: I definitely agree...I feel almost embarrassed when I tell people that I'm planning on staying home after LO comes, as if I'm doing something wrong! It's pretty unusual here--most families I know have two working parents. But I just can't imagine dragging myself to a low paying job that I don't even like rather than spend time with LO.

@hilsy85: I could have written that post myself. I just owned up to DH to feeling embarrassed and like a wuss for not trying to "do it all" like so many of the families we know here. He reminded me that I'm not home all day to see all the moms who are out with their kids....I just see the moms walking the kids to daycare while I'm out with the dog. @mrsjazz: I can imagine it's tough, especially now that she is here. I think we just need to do what is best for mom and baby, and try not to worry about what other people think!

the economy and high rate of unemployment decided for me.

I didn't love my job and it would have been difficult on our family for me to be working full time - I would be stressed all the time and working long hours. It was not worth it to us so we made the decision that I would stay at home as long as I wanted to. I left it open with work but told them it was very likely I would be staying home with LO...but just in case being a SAHM wasn't for me we left it open. Well it turns out I love being a SAHM and even though we would love to have the extra income, we made decisions (like buying house in the suburbs rather than the city) so that we could live comfortably on one income.