SAHM all the way

I will be a SAHM. I've worked with kids my entire life (literally, I've been doing diapers since I was 3) and my own mom was a SAHM for 15 years and then started working, and I've worked with kids who have SAHM's and kids who don't, and I've seen many distinct differences. Kids who have SAHM's are well-adjusted and well-behaved in 99.9% of the cases I have seen.

From a young age, children's worlds revolve around their parents, they mimic everything you do and say. If you're not around, who will they imitate? Not their teachers, they despise their teachers from about 10 years onward. If you don't influence them, who (or what) will?
I know it's hard to hear (or read), but whether you like it or not, this is the way it goes. It may take a village to raise a child, but it shouldn't be "the village" that does the raising. It should be the parents.

I have seen so many heartbreaking instances where the parents feel that they both need to work to provide for their child. They don't consider other options--if one parent works, you only need one car, which means you spend less on insurance, gas, repairs, and payments. If one parent works, you are also spending less on wardrobing (those of you that need uniforms or business attire--the drycleaning adds up, and so does the Starbucks). And think of the money you'd save on childcare! $15,000 to $20,000 a year (I used to work in childcare centers and I know I'm right). If you are a SAHM you also buy less formula if you breastfeed, and less jar food if you own a blender (fresh organic veggies are healthier anyway!). In many circumstances if you total the cost of your job against your wages (especially if you have less education than a Master's), you can be losing money, or barely breaking even.
I knew a woman who made $2 an hour after childcare/uniform/gas expenses. Is it really worth it? You make the choice. I made mine.