I really appreciate your nuanced questions and perspectives. In a perfect world, we could all take breaks from our work -- men included! -- to focus on family without fear of having to "start over" when we re-enter the workforce. I've been a working mother for 11 years now and though I enjoy having a purpose and identity outside the context of my family, it's also been brutal. I went back to work after 10 weeks for my daughter and 12 weeks for my son, mostly for financial reasons and because my jobs pressured me to take as little time as possible. I wasn't even remotely ready to leave my babies for 40+ hours a week. There are huge trade-offs no matter which way you cut it, particularly for women. In any case, I'm glad you're focusing on the quality time you were able to have and the opportunities you have before you. Best of luck on your journey!