K.P.
In my opinion, our children are our careers as mothers. We can do whatever we darn well want after we have done our jobs as moms. If you are wanting to go back to work just to satisfy your ego, I feel that is selfish. If you must work to pay the bills, you have options. For example...I know my husband is going to be laid off in November, and I have been a SAHM for seven years, and still have a 4 yr old at home during the day. So, I recently found a job as a Caregiver in an assisted living home working overnights. I go to work at 10:30 at night, so I am still able to have dinner with my husband and kids, and tuck them all into bed before I leave. I get home at 6:45 in the morning, so I am able to get my son ready for school. My daughter and I take naps together, and I sleep a few more hours after my husband gets home from work. Yes, this is hard to pull off, but it's way worth it not to have either of my kids in any sort of daycare. No other person can replace you as mommy. Mommy care is always better than daycare, no matter how much you tell yourself that your baby LOVES his/her care provider. I have always had the mindset of, "why have kids if you are going to give them to someone else all day to take care of?" Seems silly to me. So, to answer your question, when your kids are in full time school (1st) grade is a good time to work around their schedules. If you have a baby at home, you need to be home night and day to take care of and bond with him/her. Of course, this is all just my opinion, take it or leave it.