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I've been really happy with my choice. There have definitely been some challenging times, but it feels like the right fit for my family. I do sometimes feel anxious about not progressing in my career, but mostly I'm really happy. I do miss working, and being passionate about my job.

I'm hoping to go back part time in the fall, it seems like the best balance for me and my family.

@Mrs. Blue: It was my desire, I have zero regrets thus far at 14 months, I wouldn't do anything differently. If a part-time opportunity arose now that we're only nursing 2x a day, I would probably pursue it but I'm not seeking anything out. The biggest transition was simply managing my time while at home, and coping with a lack of extrinsic motivators/feedback on "job performance". I love being at home with him!

My mom WOHM part-time, and it was awesome for us growing up. We knew she wasn't always going to be home, but she was around for important things, like chaperoning field trips. If I had the chance to do it, I would!

I've been home for 2.5 years and I think part-time work would be my ideal, especially now that DD is a little older. I'm really glad for the time we've had together but I really miss being able to contribute to the household budget, especially since I'm the one who does most of the shopping!

@photojane: That's great to hear! I always felt that way, but no one ever understood me! They make you feel like it's not good enough or not a 'real' job.

@Mrs. Blue: I'm not a SAHM, but I did take an extended maternity leave. While I love spending most days with M, there have definitely been days I've been excited to return to work. I fully admit I would not make a good SAHM...I need to get out of the house and interact with adults. It's really rough to basically never get a break. Do you have friends with babies? I don't have any friends around me with babies (that SAH) so I feel like we do the same things every day and it gets kinda boring sometimes. In a perfect world I would work part-time. I'd get to spend some days with M and I'd get to get out of the house and have a break some days. I think that's the best of both worlds!

@scg00387: the lack of feedback/ reinforcement is really hard! I never would have predicted that, but after working so hard in school and at work, and getting lots of positive feedback it is difficult to transition to staying at home! It has been a challenge to my self esteem, but I actually am slowly feeling more confident now than when I was working and receiving regular praise.

I have been a SAHM for 3 years and I have absolutely no regrets, we agreed that I would stay home and I love it. Of course many days are long and hard but now that my LO's are a little older (3 and 1) they are really fun and we have a good routine. My only regret is that I went back to graduate school prior to having kids and we're still paying off one of my loans. If I would have known we would have kids so soon after school I would have stayed in my previous field!

I wanted to be a SAHM and my daughter is 14 months old. Just last week, I started looking after another little girl four days a week in her home, so I guess technically I know WOH? But I still feel like a SAHM mum.

I don't regret my choice, but I do often think about it and do *hope* I don't live to regret it one day, as in finding it too tough to get back into a my career, or not being able to afford to retrain, as I'd like to.

I can't really add much to the transitions aspect as I have been a SAHM since she was born. I don't think I would do anything differently.... although I live overseas from my family, if I lived closer to them maybe I'd have considered part time work as they could have provided childcare, potentially.

I love being with A, I love being there for every moment of her life, every smile, kissing her better after every fall, being there for all her firsts.

The challenges for me though are she is super attached to me and not sleep trained. She needs me there with her to take naps and so there isn't any time in the day where I can get on top of the housework. That's been a big source of conflict between me and DH, because he (fairly, to be honest) expects me to do the cleaning/cooking when he's out working all day and doesn't understand when I say I didn't get a minute to clean.

There are hard days for sure but I'm super happy with my choice. Maybe I'll regret it from my career stance, but I'll never regret it from an emotional point of view.

I've always planned on being a SAHM until my children are in school full time as it's something that is super important to me, and fortunately, DH as well. LO is nearly 19 months now and I haven't regretted it for a second. I had a solid career and eight years in my chosen profession before becoming a mum, but I infinitely prefer what I'm doing now. I frequently say to DH that I could not imagine leaving our DD every day to go to work - for me, no amount of professional satisfaction is going to come close to the satisfaction I receive from being there for my child every day.

Now that's not to say there aren't tough days when I would love to be 'using my brain' and taking coffee breaks with some adult interaction, but the benefits of being the one home with my child, meeting her needs every day, far outweighs those momentary twinges.

I do plan on returning to work once the kids are in school, but for now, I am happy being home with my child (soon to be children) and watching them grow. The time flies by so quickly as it is, I don't want to miss any more of it than absolutely necessary.

I didn't want to be a SAHM before, during, or right after pregnancy. It wasn't until my maternity leave started dwindling, that I felt the desire to remain home with our daughter for an extended period of time. I made the choice to stay home for a combination of reasons - financial, logistical, and emotional.

I am really connected to my career choice and excited about returning, when the opportunity presents itself, and the timing is right. A large part of my identity is tied to the path I've taken, in the working world. It's still difficult to be away from my students and colleagues; I struggle with that transition, at times. I'm also not the most domestic (unless you count my OCD cleaning habits, but those have been with me for a long time), so I have trouble feeling reinforced after preparing a meal, or doing four loads of laundry. My husband and I work hard to maintain a steady stream of positive feedback - both for what he does at the office, and what I do in the home.

I absolutely love being with our daughter. Our bond is immense and strong, and I'm happy to be the one providing daily care, during her infancy. I do not regret my decision, but know that I would, if I never returned to work. There is too much left for me to accomplish and advocate for, professionally. I will indeed be sad to leave my daughter in the care of a provider, when that time comes, but do look forward to the next chapter for our family.

Nope, zero regrets here. I love it! I'm glad I got my degree and some work experience before starting my tenure as a SAHM. And I'm REALLY thankful for the opportunity to volunteer and pad out my resume for an eventual return to work. I have a toddler, and hopefully another one in the near future. I'd like to go back to work part time in a few years, but I'd always like to be home, taking care of our family and home, part time.

I work part time and it honestly makes me feel like I have the best of both worlds. I am focused when at work, present when I am at home, and feel very little guilt in between. I could never be working full time or be a SAHM, so really, I couldn't be happier. I highly recommend!

Even on the tough days I don't regret it. Sure there are days it is incredibly hard and draining but I didn't love my job every second of every day. And the fun bits are a lot more awesome at home I am lucky because it was an easy decision for us and DH was on board but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

I chose to be a SAHM. It's really the only "profession" I've ever wanted and I'm so thrilled that I'm finally living out my dream!

The hardest part was when DS was a newborn-8ish months. I felt like I needed to be doing stuff with him but there wasn't really much I could do with an infant so I felt guilty. It was also hard to get out of the house, I didn't have friends with babies and I was still to shy to try out story times, etc by myself.

Now that he's 15 months every day is SO fun! I seriously have such a blast with him and I'm infinitely happier/more fulfilled as a SAHM.

I love working part-time. I would love it even more if my part-time job entailed regular adult interaction in person (instead of on the phone). But, still, it's a great balance!

A friend told me yesterday I was living the dream--I was like, I am?!? Wait, maybe I am!!!

I was "forced" to work PT in December (budget cuts) and I liked it!!!

I worked from 730 to 1230 - picked up kids from DCP at 1pm - we got home and DD took a nap while me and DS did an activity.

It was a great mix of working and getting some extra time with the kids! Plus my house was way cleaner and I did all the "chores" thru out the week - come Saturday and Sunday it was all relaxing - pretty nice!!!

I agree with @Running Elley: , once my boy was a year we had so much more fun hanging out together! It's only getting funner with each month that goes by. It would be great timing for your kids!

I think part time is the holy grail if you have any interest in your career. I may actually go against that and stay home in the next couple years, because my current part-time gig might cease to exist. but I feel like in part-time you get most of the benefits of both worlds. time at home with kids, weekday activities, a more relaxed schedule on those days. but also - keeping up to date with work/skills, keeping your resume and network going, bringing in some cash, having adult time, etc.

I should add - I've always wanted to be a SAHM. and I think I would love it in the short term. but I've always planned to work when the kids go to school and I'm worried about getting back in at that point. I worked several years to set up the part-time gig I have now . . . those things don't come up easily.