Just a reminder that many of us develop just fine while raising children. Like most things in life, what you get out of it depends mostly on what you put into it. I absolutely LOVED being a SAHM. I'd have done it longer if I could have. I was never bored. I did all kinds of interesting things. I learned how to cook everything from scratch and other ways to save money. I started a business, bought a third interest in another, did freelancing, did community volunteer work -- all of it with my kids by my side or nursing in a sling. It was a fabulous time of life.