Well, let me first ask, Can you handle being home? lol Just kidding. I am a stay at home mom of a girl age 9 and a boy age 5. I had to fight to do this, when I was pressured to get a job, the whole "home" went to heck! lol House was a mess, I worked 3rd shift on weekends so it was hard to get back into a being awake 1st shift on weekdays. No one wanted me working. Including myself. I got done after 7 mos. I think being home with your children is very challenging also, but worth it. My kids were a little on the shy side, for they weren't around a bunch of other kids everyday. The way I look at it, was I post poned the bad behaviors they learn from other children until they went to school. It's true, that's when they start coming home acting up. I personally am going to try to stay home with my kids AS LONG AS I CAN. Look at the kids in America today! The precious most sensetive ages are NOT just up until they start school. What about the teen years? This was where all my trouble began. What about all of the teens that come home from school everyday to an empty house? And the Parent's that find there child has done something aweful and they don't dicipline their child because they feel TOO GUILTY cause they haven't seen their child much all week. My mom stayed home until her youngest (me) was out of the house, & she doesn't regret it. I'm not saying all moms that work do these things, but there is a good portion of them that do. Don't get me wrong some moms CANNOT handle being home & would rather be working, they need their social life, independence etc., and it probably is good that they work lol. To me my kids are the MOST important thing in my life, and this is where I feel I am truly doing the right thing. I want to know everything that is going on in their life. Well, sorry if I came off sounding judgemental, I have had both friends that work, & friends that stay home. I don't criticize their decision.