One of the best decisions I've ever made.

I went back to work when Sophia was about seven months. I worked full time and Sophia went to a very good daycare also full time. During all this time, I would see my daughter for an hour in the morning and two hours in the evening, and even though Sophia was not growing at the same pace as a typical kid her age, I felt as if I was missing a lot of what my baby was doing.  Early Intervention was going to daycare and I would get the report by mail and sometimes by phone, I couldn't really see how she was doing with them, that was another thing I was missing. Still, I needed to work and things seemed to be working out so we continued like that.  Then Sophia started school, Eric would drop her off at daycare and then the school bus would drive her to school and back to daycare. I would talk to the teachers through the communication book and even though they were very detail-oriented in their notes, I felt like it was somewhat impersonal.
Time went by and  things were fine until Sophia started to cry everyday on the bus, she was on it for 50 minutes each way, and she would cry the whole time, THE WHOLE TIME! Still to this day I don't know why, she couldn't tell me what was bothering her. We tried things like having her favorite toys on the bus, but it didn't work. The teachers and the daycare lady would call me at work everyday telling me that Sophia cried for about 30 minutes after being dropped off.  I was going crazy!
This went on for two weeks! Sophia cried every single day for two weeks! Then I had it! I had to do something. Up until then, I was ok with the fact that I was a working mother but I always thought that I was seeing my daughter's life through school pictures and reports, but this was too much. It was time to do something, so Eric and I talked it through and since he recently had had a promotion at work, we decided that we could afford for me to stay home and really be there for Sophia and actively participate in her education and progress. Best decision ever!
 I have learned a lot about Sophia in the last year, I got to really know her. I have seen first hand what she can do, I have seen all her progress. The teachers and I have a very good relationship and the communication is great and very personal. I drop her off and pick her up from school and the ride is only 5 minutes! I am able to keep up with the good work they do at school. But the best thing of all, Sophia and I have a very special bond and that's worth all the money in the world. I am very thankful and feel so lucky to be able to stay at home with my child, I know not everybody is that fortunate so I try to not take it for granted.
It has been a year since I made the decision of staying at home, I am still a working mom, my job is to be there for my daughter and help her to reach her potential, that's my job and I love it!