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I went back to work until my older daughter was about a year and a half old, and then became a stay at home mom. I've been home for about a year and a half - she is now three, and we have a nine month old daughter too. I love being home with them. For us, it was absolutely the right decision for me to be home now - but it's taken some adjusting financially and otherwise. Here are some of our ups and downs:

Ups: Our morning routine is SO much easier than when I worked. I worked in a high school, and my husband was in a carpool that left early too. We were all out of the house by 6:15. Our mornings are a lot simpler now. During the day, I take care of errands more easily to free up some of our weekend time (I mean, as easy as carting kids around on errands ever is?). We make it to the park, library, play dates, etc. a lot. Our evenings feel calmer too. There isn't a rush to fit things in at that point in the day. My husband commented about a month into me being home that he felt like we just finally caught our breath.

Downs: Financially, it took some adjusting for me to stay home. But, the cost of putting a second baby in daycare was going to do that for us too. I ended up finding part-time work that I can do remotely, from home to help balance that a bit. It means I get up a few hours before everyone else to work early mornings and usually spend naptime working too. So, that's a bit much some days. It felt more doable with one kid at home, but with two it's been more challenging to balance. Also, winter feels tougher for some reason to be home all day with the kids. In the nicer weather, it was great to take the kids to the park or even just outside in the yard. In the cold, some days can feel pretty isolating.

Recently I've finally connected with more "mom friends" who are also home, and having a better sense of community makes a world of difference on the good days and tougher ones. I wish I'd made more of an effort sooner when I started staying home because I hadn't realized how much I missed - and needed - that.

The best advice, which I didn't take to my downfall, was to treat staying at home like a job. Schedule your days and aim to get out of the house regularly. Find your tribe, don't try to do it alone.

I stayed home from my son's birth until he was 2, I left a corporate office job. My only advice upon returning is that in some careers, you really can't be out too long, no more than 2 years without looking irrelevant, but companies are starting to modernize and might have career comeback programs that will allow you to ease back in.

@polkaspots: I SAH, before DS I worked a 50hr a week salaried job, it was a huge adjustment. That being said it is so much easier not having to be on a strict scheduale. Ds is also special needs also and staying at home has made that aspect (therapies, dr appt.) easier. Unfortunately I live in a tiny area, so if there is a mothers group I can't find it. We do make sure not to go any longer than 2 days with out getting out the house. We live on acres so we spend a lot of time just running around the yard lol. My husband works like 60 plus hours a week and I was starting to struggle with never having any alone time, so I put DS in a Mother's Day out program twice a week. It realllly helped with my sanity and DS gets to socialize.

I think you just need to think about what your personal needs are as far as career and interactions etc. I don't like mommy groups and therefore have a hard time SAH. (Adding: in fact the adults in my life are probably at lest 50/50 childfree.) I find WOH easier but had to stop and go pt for what was best for our family overall. I have to really talk myself down sometimes from being resentful of Dh when he "gets to" go to work.

@polkaspots: Not exactly the same, but I started out mostly staying at home and WOH about 10 hours a week. My son was seeing multiple therapists at the time through EI. I don't know how I could have worked full time out of the house and still juggled all his appointments. Logistically, it seemed necessary, but also I loved that I could be there for all the sessions to have a great sense of what he was doing. I'm sure in that way, a switch for you will be really great. The main thing I found helpful, when mostly staying at home, was to find a group of SAHMs in the neighborhood to meet up with casually at parks, coffee shops, whatever. Once I found my group, I loved staying at home.

No advice, just following. I am likely going to SAH after my 2nd is born (this week!) and I am a little anxious about it. Mostly because I am an introvert and I know I will need to schedule my days or else I will probably never leave the house.