Help, How to work out if I am ready to go back to work?

I have an 18 month old DS and I am trying to work out if working next year would make me happier or more exhausted. I would like to try out casual teaching, any tips or advice on how it is would be greatly appreciated. I am trained as a secondary school teacher which I did fulltime for a year but have mainly worked in the corporate sector. I have figured that teaching has more family friendly hours with better hourly pay than a corporate job which is why I'd like to give it a go. With the downturn in the economy it would probably give me more peace of mind plus it would be nice to have some extra money.

Did you find that work energised you or did you feel more exhausted? I am looking at two days a week which isn't that much in the scheme of things but I have been trying to get over PND so unsure of how I would feel going back to work.

I have gone over it in my head a million times and would really appreciate anything you can tell me of your experiences. Thanks

some days it will energise you and other days you will be totally knackered!
but getting in to a routine that is out of the house i find helps to clear my head of all things family for a little bit.
i think all you can do is give it a try! being just relief/casual means if it doesnt suit you you can say no.
good luck

I went back to work when DD1 was 1, it was only a 5 hour day, but it was worth it. Initially I was very frightened and wondered how I would cope, but it ended up being for the best.

The extra money coming in was a huge help, it took away some of the money stress. I got to have a break from DD1, I had no family around, so I rarely spent more than 5 minutes apart from her. It was so refreshing to be able to use my brain in a non-mummy way and to be able so socialise a bit at somewhere that was not a mothers group. As I was working a short day, I would then go supermarket shopping. It was heaven to be able to go around a supermarket by myself, no DH or DD1. I know pretty sad, but I enjoyed it.

Give it go, if it does not work out then stop. Good luck.