My mom returned to work when I was about 11 years old. My sister was three years older. Our house soon became the neighborhood party house from 3- 6 PM every weekday. LOL! Same with us - my parents were divorced and my dad raised us... party house after school (when we weren't skipping that is - I wrote the absence notes myself) sometimes there were days when we didn't even know some of the kids who were over. It was by the grace of God that we made it into adulthood in one piece.
One of our jobs as parents is to not put our kids into compromising situations. My parents failed miserably in that.
So.... I work nights and my husband works days. It isn't easy but I know firsthand how important it is for kids to have parents home when they come home from school. 'Sides, what do you do for school vacations, holidays and summers? You can't put them in camps or have babysitters forever and we know the trouble they can get into while unsupervised. One of the saddest things I see is when a friend calls me and has me pick up her sick child from school... they want their moms but instead they have to stay on my sofa for the day. I try to be as loving as their mom would be, but the fact is, they want their own mom and not someone else's.
Let's face it though... today it isn't easy to get by on one income and it is difficult for a woman to give up a career she may have spent years being educated for.
My three kids are in three different schools. It's weird trying to follow their schedules. They don't have the same days off. Last week my little girl was sick for two days. Tomorrow my son has off for "teacher record" day. Wednesday my girl is off for "teacher conference" day. Their spring breaks don't coincide this year. I'm so glad I could just take it in stride and don't need to scramble for someone to replace me every time I need to be home. So is my husband. He's free to pursue his career, and he's not torn in so many directions.
Would I find stimulation and satisfaction with a career? Sure, I loved my work. I suppose I could also use the money. But you know what? I'm happier knowing that our children are supervised and secure, that my husband knows he'll find some rest and happiness upon returning home, and that our home is truely a place where we all feel loved and accepted.
One time we were watching "Seventh Heaven. " I told my teenaged son that no one really has a family like that. His response amazed me. He said our family is something like that. He also said that of all his friends' families, he thought ours was the most normal.