Go Back to Work or Stay Home?

You'd always planned to return to work, but with your restart date only weeks away, you're dreading leaving your baby. Should you stay home? Or maybe you've been home for six months and are desperately missing the camaraderie and challenge of your job. Should you go back to work? It's among the toughest decisions we mothers make.

The fact that there's no one, right answer is both good news and bad. It means you won't be wrong no matter what you decide, but you likely won't be absolutely certain either. Fortunately, no decision is irreversible. "Think in terms of the next 12 months rather than your entire career path, which can be overwhelming," suggests Paige Hobey, mother of two, age 4 and 1, and author of The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville: Your Must-Have Manual for Life with Baby (Da Capo Lifelong Books).

You'll of course need to consider your family's finances -- many moms have no choice but to go back to work. Whether you're wrestling with your decision or already have a plan, you should find this expert advice and insights from other moms helpful. Here's what they think you should know.