I love it. I've gone from a mad career woman, working all hours to a SAHM.
I don't miss the commuting, the politics, the idiots, the stress, the working week, the time not to enjoy my house and home, the lack of time to do simple pleasure.
I now love my freedom, my flexibility, my new social life, my house on a cosy winters day when i can choose to curl up with a book or have a bath in the middle of the day, my garden on a summers afternoon when I can stretch out on the lawn and doze, the shopping trips with friends, being able to let the kids stay home when poorly without having to frantically organise things, having tea prepared so when the kids come home there's no madness and we can sit and chat.
I did have a full on career for many years though, so have done all I set out to do, so when I did stay at home, I didn't have any frustrations. For me it was a case of been there, done that, don't want to do it any more.
I realise it could be completely different if you were a shyer person or someone who hadn't had the chance to make many friends near home. I did make the effort when my kids were very young, to meet and talk with other mums and from a wide circle of acquaintances have narrowed it down over the years to a small group of good friends who I can meet with and talk to on a daily basis if I want. So never lonely, but nice to have the choice of being alone if I want to.
I've never regretted it and can always look back and know I've not missed any of my kids growing up. Once that's gone, you can never get it back and it does go so bloomin' quickly.