My friends don't always disguise the fact that they think I'm nuts

We have very different parenting styles and they have basically gone back to work full-time pretty quickly. I've pretty much been a SAHM for close to five years (bar a brief stint working part-time) and have more or less given up my career.

My life has changed drastically and I do think I've lost 'me'. Temporarily. But on the plus side I've had plenty of time to ponder my future and work out what I want to do for the rest of my life. That includes a career change.

Personally, I find the first 12 months relatively easy. It feels right to have my life revolve around my baby. I reach burnout at around 18 months and start needing time to myself - that's why I've put DD2 into childcare for two days a week. This will allow me time to study/freelance/faff. With DD1 I found the age 18 months to 3 the most difficult. She was all energy, no sense and constant tantrums. Now she's 4.5, I enjoy spending time with her enormously.

Has me being a SAHM affected my relationship with DP? Absobloodylutely. Have we got the balance right? Nowhere near but we're continuing to work on it. I do think my friends who work full-time have a much better relationship with their partner mainly because they share looking after the children/housework pretty equally.