Should I give up work? I am trying to decide whether to give up a well paid job to look after my children?

Family first. Who knows what will happen with your job or anyones job, nothing is guaranteed, unless your an undertaker. Your kids will only grow up once. Yep by keeping the job you will be teaching your kids you need to work hard, but if you give it up you'll also be teaching them you need to make sacrifices in life, but also teach them that you can be happy even though you are on a budget. Yep money is good, but seeing a kid smile - priceless.

Be at home with your children. The time spent with them when they are young is extremely precious and I was lucky enough to be able to stay at home with mine. I know it is more difficult for people today but if you can afford to be with them, then you are truly blessed. This time will never come again.

I worked a great, well paying full time job that I loved when my oldest son was little. Now, I stay home with him (6) and our new baby (7 months). I wouldn't change it for the world. I am soooo happy, and I can't imagine how I worked all that time. I missed out on so much with my older son. It really is a personal preference, but if I were you, I would stay home. For me, I hate the thought of someone else watching my kids, just so I can bring in a little extra money. We live on a very tight budget...but it is worth it. I get to spend the days with my kids, and my house stays pretty clean, and I have time to cook. I never had any of that when i was working. The only thing that I miss about working, is the adult conversation. But I would take talking about dinosaurs and Harry Potter over gossip and news anyday! That is a choice only you can make...but if you do, you will be doing a great thing for your kids. Good luck and take care!

Its a personal decision. If you can afford it and you think that staying home with your children would be best, then do that. If you want to continue to work for that extra money and so that the kids can understand that people have to work for a living, then do that. Its really just up to you. I suggest you sit down and speak with your husband. Weigh out the pros and cons. Since I never really enjoyed working (I'm not one of those people that felt like they HAD to be working or they'd go crazy), I jumped at the opportunity to stay home with my kids. I just felt like being a SAHM was the most important and rewarding "job" I could be doing. None of the other stuff mattered. We live by a stricter budget, I've found new ways to get out and socialize with adults, I take my kids to play groups so that they get the experience of being around other people..... That's strictly the way I felt though. Everyone is different.

I would work part-time. I am a firm believer in children being socialized at daycare/preschool and it sounds like your kids are definitly old enough. Keep working and keep your independence...good for you.

Reading your question ..I really don't think you want or need advice. I think you are just looking for approval to keep your job. Hon , it's not wrong to want the best of both worlds and no one says that if you don't stay home with your kids 24/7 that your not mother of the year material. If you can juggle both a career and motherhood then do what makes you happy .

Well I think you answered you question. If you don't enjoy your job and you can afford to stay home then why wouldn't you stay home. Your children are so young that the message of working hard is not something they will understand at this point. You staying home and taking care of them is working hard. And if you really think working outside the home is important in your life (which is completely understandable)- then why not quit your job and take sometime to find another job that you would really enjoy. You might want to go back to school and take some courses that would help you get the job that you love. For me personally I think one of the most important lessons to teach our children is whatever you do (stay at home, or work or both) you should do what you love. Only then will people find true happiness. And true happiness is really the most important goal in life.

That's a personal preference. I am pregnant with my first and hope to be able to stay home till mine are in elementary school. I am a teacher so will go back with them, which will help with the schedules and obviously I will not be giving up a big income to stay home. However, it will be a budget/lifestyle change. I will probably try to find some way to work from home and make some money. Your kids can learn that it is important to work in other ways, but I think you can teach your children so many other important values staying home with them. But.... you have to decide if you will also be happy staying at home too.

There really is no 'right' decision. I work with women who have decided to keep their full-time job, even though virtually all their salary goes towards private nurseries. But this way they maintain their career and have a life outside family (and have conversations with adults!). It might also be worth considering: What happens if your husband loses his job or he is no longer able to work? Would you be able to go out and get a good job easily? Are you comfortable depending on your husband for money? What if you want to splash out on some new clothes? Would you feel guilty, or would your husband be annoyed? I'm sure this isn't an easy decision!