I loved being at home with my kids when they were little, my maternity leaves ran into each other and I took 4 years off and it was just magic to be with my little ones as they were growing up. I went back to work 4 days a week when youngest was 2 but didn't really enjoy my job so I was happy to quit when we moved countries and be at home with kids again. I fell back into work accidentally, job offer too good to turn down but flexible working conditions so I can work around kids schedule.
Today is first day of school holidays, i've been at home all day with my two and some of their friends and at 6pm I found myself thinking, I miss work!
I'm fortunate to have some balance and a job that I enjoy, am there for all the important things at school and to help with homework but I have some other focus too. I did find that I had got rusty when I went back to work and needed to build my pace again. Now I find the busier I am the more I achieve. The less concrete or focused my day, the less I do, my brain is definitely sharper for being back at work and I can't help but notice that the most dissatisfied parents at my children's school haven't worked for a long time and have a greater preoccupation with how sharp the pencils are.
Obviously not true of everyone but there are some who had successful careers, have taken 10 years plus off work, their kids are all in full time education and now they seem to lack anything of their own to focus on. It's difficult for them to get back to work or they fear what it will be like because they've lost their professional confidence.
So, in long and garbled essence, I'd say every mum should have a chance to be with her children full time for a reasonable period of time but if she enjoyed working or the financial freedom that second income provided, she should try and get back into it at some stage or find a project outside the home to get into, not related to her children's school ie completely independent from the family to keep brain/skills ticking over.
My impression from most of the posts here is that kids are still quite young and time people have taken off hasn't been that long. I hadn't realised that my skills were getting jaded until I had to use them again and I felt like I was reviving someone I had forgotten I used to be. I also enjoy the interaction with different people which doesn't relate to children, in particular I've found I like working with men again, for years I was just hanging out with other mums or socialising in couples, which i loved doing but I like mixing with men and women. I honestly truly believe I am much better at my job for being a mum, it provides a different perspective which is really hard to explain to someone who doesn't have children without sounding patronising.
My mum worked when I was growing up as did her mum so I'm also keen for my daughter in particular to see that women can try to have it all, work and be with family. I think anything's possible and I want her to feel the same.
Agree that as children get older they need more help in other ways, but given they're at school a big chunk of the day, personally I'd rather work while they're at school, have cleaner sort out house as I am lazy shit about housework and hate doing it under any circumstances (ie even if childless and unemployed) and be there for kids when they're home from school.
Easier said than done but OP in your situation would say enjoy this time at home, embrace everything about it and at some stage, not straight away but after you've had some pure unadulterated stay at home time, keep your hand in with some tutoring, would have thought you will be striking almost the perfect balance but you deserve a guilt free period totally focused on you, your kids/family, it's a precious time and I feel very fortunate I had my time even if it's not what I want for myself now.
Gosh this was much longer post than I intended, obviously not using succinct and concise communication skills!
Final of America's Next Top Model, All Stars coming up must sign off!