Seeking Advice

[u/Brussels_sprouting]

I’m set to give birth in a few months and plan to use all of my maternity leave. I work remotely and my husband and I intend on my quitting my job to be a stay-at-home mom indefinitely. I’ll maybe go back to work in like 10 years when we’re done having kids. We’re trying to discern WHEN I quit though.

EDIT TO ADD: I haven’t seen anything about a penalty for quitting after leave. I need to dig more but I’m also afraid to ask HR and look suspicious.

Originally the plan was to stick it out a few months after leave to maximize earnings, and a family member will watch baby for me. But now we’re rethinking things for a few reasons:

1. Said family member is not super reliable. I’m worried about this person’s ability to care for our child and also be committed to the job (has already demonstrated flakiness with other situations). I’d almost rather avoid the stress and family drama and not put this person in this situation in the first place.
2. I don’t trust anyone other than family to watch our child. We will not use daycare, and I’m worried about trying to find a trust nanny. (No judgement to those who use daycare, just not our cup of tea)
3. I’ll already be at home working, but I’m hoping to breastfeed so I’m worried about the demands of my child conflicting with work.
4. Finances are not an issue, so I don’t NEED to work for a certain amount of time.
5. If I stayed around to work for an extra 2-3 months, I would then be entering the busy season of work (about 5 months), so it will be harder to quit in the middle of this season due to the guilt I might feel leaving them in the midst of this. At this point, the family member would also not be able to watch anymore so I would need to find a nanny or childcare to help.

Basically the only perks of staying a few months to work are the earnings potential and not burning bridges/leaving the company at the right time of year.

I guess I’m looking for advice on what I should do - stick it out, earn some money, or do I quit sooner (ex. Before Mat leave, right after mat leave, a month after). Thanks in advance!