When you have a baby, you're working through a lot of emotions anyway, and adding financial stress to everything else would have been too much for us. You'll also need to consider how marketable you'll be after a pause in your work life. Some moms keep up by doing temp work or consulting. For others, there's simply no way back. You can't freelance for the police department, and there's a long list of people waiting for jobs like mine.
Most fields offer some middle ground, but it often takes effort to find it.
I kept thinking of how I could shape my own career. Given the nature of organizing conventions, she was able to work part-time, evenings, and weekends once her oldest child turned 2. Psychological Shifts Leaving the workforce can also affect your self-image and the dynamics of your marriage. I'm glad I was home. It's what I wanted to do.