I've done one, and am doing the other.
I had a career which, although it didn't pay well, I loved. I've also been able to travel so my FB proudly displays photos of trips to Mauritius, South Africa etc. I'm glad I did them, and I still work part-time as I did enjoy work and I've managed to get a good pt job in the same field. Now though, my FB page displays a slightly less 'exciting' lifestyle.
Now, my days are filled with saying things like 'Please take your finger out of my nose. If you need to pick a nose, pick your own.' and 'Get down, because you'll fall. You will, can you please get.... you see? You should have got down. Where does it hurt?'' and 'No, I'm not putting ice cream on your weetabix for breakfast. I know you like ice cream, but we're not eating it for breakfast. Or chocolate.' And 'But you put the paint on your hand yourself, to do a handprint, so why are you crying? I'll cuddle you in a second, let's just wash your hands... in a second... hands...hands... never mind, I can wash my hair.'
I wouldn't go back. (Well, sometimes, at 5.00am when my morning appears to be underway, and I can't yet put CBeebies on and lie half asleep on the sofa, and I look back wistfully to the days when I rolled out of bed to a 7.00am alarm!). My life is very different, and often very frustrating (we just don't wear our new dress in the bath ok?) but a lot of fun. I look at friends who have careers and who are still 'doing' things but who don't have kids and think 'You don't know what you're missing!' They have achieved, absolutely. But so have I. I have achieved a whole other person. I am trying to turn that person into someone who can go out into society and be a good person, someone who is kind, and considerate, and who can contribute to life in some way. I think that's worth something.