I have to work because I can't afford it, I would like to stay home with the kids. It would be nice.

I work full time, with some over time, about 50 hours a week and have four children. 9, 12, 15 & 16. Exhaustion doesn’t really do what I feel on a daily basis any justice lol.
I stay working because I love it. I love the social aspects of work. I love the adult interaction and the constant opportunities to learn. I personally hated being a stay at home mum, I found it isolating and boring. I also found that I had nothing to talk about to other mums and realised that those without an outlet like work regularly engaged in bitchiness and the strangest overly competitive behaviour about kids milestones ... like who fucking cares if your child reads a year level higher and how quickly your other took to tying their shoe laces. I found most school gate conversations tedious and a bit dull...

I don’t have to work either, hubby runs his own successful business. I work because it’s for me and my future and well-being. Nothing is set in stone ... financial independence is extremely important to me and the ability to be able to provide for myself. I also am fairly proud of being able to provide for my family and want to set a good example for all my kids that working hard is important. I like that I have my own career and want all the kids to value education and learning.

If you both work maybe your partner isn't doing his share with the kids.

If you can afford it, do it. A burnt out mum is no good for anyone. My children are in school full time, they have been for a couple of years now. It suits us because we can afford it, it makes hubby's life easier because domestically everything is taken care of and when it comes to the kids I have it under control. Yes I can be a bit lazy at times but that's life. I have no idea how you working mums do it, hats off to you. But for us this is the best way.