Our daughters were 7 and 3 when I came home full time. MANY people I knew (including some at church, other at-home moms, etc.) were puzzled by the timing. Frankly, it was not their concern...it was OUR family; OUR choice! To be perfectly honest...it wasn't the kiddos that clinched the deal for us...it was the marriage! With both of us working AND doing everything that we felt was a priority for the girls and my committment to service in my church and community AND my husband's travel...what was missing was the relationship time that we wanted together. "Family" encompases so much more than just "kids" (IMHO) and ALL of it is worthy of being a priority!

There are SO many benefits to being the "available" mom when it comes to teens. You will get to know your son's friends just by being "around," and you have the potential to be the house where they hang out That is SO cool! Our older daughter and her friends are usually here on Friday nights playing games, watching videos etc. We LOVE being "that" house!

There is also research that suggests a coorelation betwen having a parent at home after school with reduced involvement with drugs, alchohol, and other risky behaviors...I believe there is also a coorelation with better grades and reduced discipline issues at school. (Give me a bit and I'll see if I can find links to the research!)

I say: Good for you! Go for it!
Lenora

PS. In favor of fair and full disclosure: our girls are now 16.5 and 12 and I am teaching part-time this year after finishing a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education.