Yes, being a stay at home mom is hard, demanding work. There are so many worthwhile jobs that are devalued in our society, while we routinely admire star power and high-income positions. But I've discovered that the opinion of "society" isn't very important, it's fickle, and most people don't care what anybody else does.

I do think for a mother's mental health, it's crucial to continue taking time if at all possible to pursue interests apart from child care.