Before my first was born, I was a manager of 7 other people and another manager, naviagating complicated FMLA laws along with state benefits country wide (including CA :)
After my daughter was born, I found it so hard to go back (and only did for a month) - I just couldn't justify it as my husband could support our family with is income. It was hard for me at first to stay home. I felt bored, eventhough I was totally enjoying my new family. My second is now 3 and I'm starting to feel more disconnected than ever. As I talk to my BIL and SIL, who are intelligent, career oriented people, I feel "less than" because I just do stuff around the house, shuttle the kids here and there. I'm not in a position to do much for myself (classes or whatever) to work my own brain muscle - my husbands work schedule is too iffy. I take solace in that that I'm raising great kids and could not imagine someone else doing it for me.
It's a chapter in my life that I'm L., but has a trade off for sure. I have no idea what I'll do when I go back to work. On one hand I envy my BIL and his wife, who are "yuppie" types - very driven, hard working, smart, successful people. But on the other hand I feel for them. When they have kids they will probably have a live in nanny raise their kids because they both have such demanding job.
My mom worked, but her job was a reliable 9-5 job close to home and she could be there for us if we were sick or something.
In the end, every family does what is best for them. No one can say being is working mom is better or being a SAHM is better. You do what is best for your family.