Leaving work - how do I decide?

I received an email from Amy last week asking about working outside the home. I'll contribute my two cents worth and with Amy's permission, I'm bringing this to the blog because I'm sure there will be many great ideas come in through the comments you will leave. This is what Amy wrote:

When did you know it was time to "retire" and come home? Have you ever thought that if you had known sooner how good it would have been, would you have left the work force sooner?

I have been in the workforce for only about 6 years after having stayed home with my children until they were all in school. I did this because I thought that it was what was expected of me from the "world". I have never thought of it as being long term. I work to only pay for my children's college tuition of which my last payment will be made next month for her last semester-yeah. We have done it with no debt. I still have a 9 yr. old boy at home and want to come home full time again BUT if I would work for 3 more years and use my paycheck to make double mortgage payments, our house would be paid off. I have a sometimes stressful job due to a boss with mental/emotional problems so I never know how the day will be.  I have to count on a babysitter for my son starting this summer because the college-daughter will be in the workforce starting in May. My heart is telling me to come home, but my practical side is saying to deal with it for 3 more years to knock out the mortgage. How do I decide?

Amy, I gave up work because I had no choice, I was burnt out. After a couple of weeks I decided to simplify my life and the day-to-day tasks of shopping, cooking, cleaning and gardening;  then I realised how full and productive life would be. I had been really ambitious during my working life and although I was burnt out at that stage, I still wanted to be challenged and satisfied by whatever I chose to spend my time on. I had to see housework for myself and make sure it wasn't what everyone was saying it was: the menial work no one wanted to do. 

I well remember the morning many years ago when I was working in my garden planting out seedings. I was alone. I'd just finished cleaning up inside, the bed was made, bread was baking and my plan was to sew napkins and a tablecloth later in the day. With my hands deep in the soil, it occurred to me that most of what I touched in my daily life was man-made. And here I was with dirt under my fingernails, looking for the worms that indicate fertility and growth and I was as happy as I could remember being in a very long time. I knew then that I'd hit the mother-lode, that I would continue working in my home and this was not just a short break from work. When I knew that and thought about it, I wished I'd discovered the significance and satisfaction of working for a life, instead of working for a living, long before I actually did.

I really admire what you've done in providing for your children's college tuition and wanting to continue to pay off the mortgage. I don't know how to answer your question other than to ask you: what do you want to do? What would satisfy you most? I think you know the answer to that.  Would it be possible for you to give up work now, and the stress of that boss, work at home with your son until he's a bit older, and then return to work to help with the mortgage? It's really up to you to write down and consider all your options. For instance, if your husband is not healthy or your marriage is a bit shaky, maybe it's prudent to pay off the mortgage fast. Does your son need you at home?  Will you benefit by being at home? Only you know all the circumstances that will impact your decision. I'm sure the readers will have wise words for you so I'll throw it open to comments now.

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