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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here -- WOW, thank you so much for these very insightful responses that have helped confirm what my heart already knew.  I realize I am lucky to have a job with such flexibility and I hadn't thought before about how hard it would be to "prove myself" at a new job while requesting maternity leave.  Not to mention, most employers don't offer unpaid leave within the first year, so that could be problematic if I do get pregnant soon (been trying for a couple months already, fingers crossed!).

[b]I think what I'm struggling with is the fact I am an attorney and many of my friends have been pursuing high powered careers over the last five years, while I've sort of been focusing on my personal life, getting married, buying and decorating a new (to me) home, planning for a family, etc.  Many of my friends in this area have decided to remain child free by choice and are now on the partner track or even running for political office, starting nonprofits, SES training, etc.  I do have friends who have opted for the family route, but most of them left for less expensive cities.  I find myself now feeling sort of left behind, especially as my husband finishes up his MBA while his career in the private sector is taking off.[/b]

I like the ideas about pursuing my passions outside of work and I imagine once I have little ones that will take up a lot of my time and energy!  Also, I should probably try to keep up with legal networking events, volunteer for detail assignments at work, etc. so I don't fall too behind professionally.

It seems like a lot of the responses are from women, I'm curious if any men have made the decision of taking a less stressful job to spend time with family?[/quote]

I think you'll find that there are many, many female attorneys who chose the Road Less Ambitious and are very happy with their decisions.  I know I'm one of them.  You're still young and your friends all feel like they have to prove themselves.  The question you have to ask yourself is:  what do I have to prove to anybody?  The answer?  Nothing.  Well, that is, nothing until you have your family.  Then you owe it to them to give of yourself what you can.  Thankfully, my work can come second to them and I'm so thankful.[/quote]

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