So your pregnant, congratulations. Now how do you decide whether you will stay at home with baby or work for a income. I say work for an income because you will soon learn that motherhood is a job to itself.

 The decision to stay home without income or juggle work and a baby is a big decision. Factor in the need for income, your personality, goals as a parent, the personality of your baby and the expectation of others.

 Can I say it is ideal to stay at home, yes for some. But then again, I have been fortunate to be at home with my children, at home being payed to watch someone elses children, and able to work while someone else (briefly) watched my children. Each had its benefits, challenges and ultimately... I found what worked best, spliting the shifts mine evenings, my husbands days, childshifts always a parent at home.  I had the freedom to work, be independent, create income, and be at home. I did miss a few first, as did there father, but there are lots of first. We are fortunate with sacrafice my part time job brought the second income and it worked. Well mostly there were the years when he worked 2 jobs opposite what I was working. Lots of late nights pizza delivery and  a newspaper on top of a day job. You adapt.

 To my friends, single mothers and alike. Children are flexible they adapt as we do. Choose your childs care wisely, if you cannot be at home. Always listen to your gut instinct, it is generally never wrong. I think of the slave mothers caring for others while neglecting her own, sometimes we do what we must, not what is easy, to survive and a  species we  still flurish.