This article is in no way meant to make any mother feel guilty. I, myself am a working mother and a student to top it off. I have no judgements for those who stay home and I would hope that no one is judging me for working. My typing fingers (ok and my brain) are here to give you the facts. Nothing more, nothing less.

That being said, I know that there are mothers out there who are struggling to balance everything. Work, home, kids, finances, husbands, boyfriends, cats, etc. Guilt is tugging at your heart when you walk out the door to work, leaving your toddler in daycare. Restlessness is tugging at your heart when you are stuck at home taking care of your toddler, cleaning the house, cooking the meals, etc. It's a full time job no matter what you do. So how do you choose? As The Clash once said, "Should I stay or should I go?" Let me help you out with that choice with a couple of pros and cons on the subject.

Daycare (Mothers who work outside of the home)

Pros

*Acquire social skills and comfort in social situations. * Increase in intellect *Talking about things that you don't already know. *Opportunities to meet other parents in similar situations. *Trained staff that know what to expect and have plenty of experience. *They learn how to assert themselves in crowds. *Better prepared for school.

Cons

*Toddler is less likely to get one-on-one care. *More likely to become ill. *Quality child care is expensive. *No one can care for your kid like you. *Could stress your toddler out. *Attachment issues. *not enough staff. *Lack a personal touch. *Learn bad behavior. *Safety issues.

Mommy Care (Mothers who work by being mothers)

Pros

*Less stressed and aggressive toddler. *Actual parental nurturing 24/7. *Consistent caregiver. *You get to see all the milestones for the first time. *Could be less expensive for one parent to stay at home instead of paying for childcare. * Much more bonding time. *Setting your own schedule. *They receive all the love and attention that they need.

Cons

*Loneliness. *Loss of identity. *Boredom and frustration with day to day life. *Providing enough social stimulation for your growing toddler is challenging. *Tension between spouse and yourself. * Lacking in adult company. * Toddler can get extremely attached to you. *Putting your career on hold.

Ultimately, it is your life. You need to decide what is best for you and your children. I just hope that this article will give you information to work off of. I wish you the best. Peace.