[urgeok2]

before anyone jumps down my throat - this is based on personal experience :

i had a best friend who's wife decided to stay at home for a few years after their kid was born. she almost went nuts and crashed the whole marriage. she was starved for interraction and it drastically changed her entire personality. just before all hell broke loose she went back to a job, made a new circle of friends and their relationship went back to being perfect.

i know this isnt the same for everyone ... but it was pretty scary.

i also see a gaggle of stay at home moms when i'm dropping my kid at schoiol.

a ring of gossiping sexless blobs in this petty mean little clique.
their kid could be slashing another kids throat 5 feet away and they wouldnt see it because they are too busy talking dirt about whatever mom isnt there.

there are a couple of exceptions to this but the ratio is about 8 to 1

unless you live in a place that offers ..and are the type of person to take advantage of programs you and your child can participate in outside of the home - i think the isolation is damaging... there is a retardation of growth from lack of exposure. people tend to say they are busy but become TV and phone gossip addicts (not all - but several)

it depends on what you are motivated to do i guess.

It's great to spend all that quality time with your kid/s but i think adults need to be around other adults too.