Why did you decide you needed to go back to work?
I didn't need to go back financially; it was more about having a life beyond taking care of my DD, for me. My DH had been deployed for a year by then. I had been a SAHM for 2 1/2 years, and a month before he got home, I went back to work. Since he had been gone, I had made decisions about what I wanted to do with my life, and it was just definitely time to get back to it.
Is it worth it to go back to work financially?
I think it depends on the situation. I really have to work at it to make it worth it, since at the moment I'm only part-time and work for a non-profit on top of it! Even though after child care costs I may not make much, it's worth it for my self-esteem, professional advancement, identity, and so on. And I believe I'm a better mom because I get out of the house, work as a youth pastor, and hopefully help other people along the way.
Does your SO pick up extra household duties?
My SO is deployed ... so no. When he is home, my going back to work honestly doesn't make much of a difference with household duties. We both struggle to get them done because we're both very busy. I do more because I work less ... he works full time and when he is home has a part time job on top of that (the National Guard).
Did you ask for and/or get a flexible work schedule?
I didn't ask, but it is the nature of my job that it is flexible, fortunately.
How did maternity leave work out?
I did ask for a lengthy maternity leave of five months given I had twins and my DH was gone. They were more than accommodating and were just happy I was returning to work afterwards.
