is best
I think that whatever suits the family best is the correct answer, after all there are no manuals out there giving exact insructions on child rearing! For me part time is excellent. I can be at home during the week doing the at home mum thing and then work 3 (fri sat + mon) days giving me the added personal satisfaction of bringing in some extra cash and being able to be around adults and maintain my (some what scaled down) social life, you know work do's etc. A mum is a mum and there is no right or wrong way of being a mum (or dad for that matter), all you can do is your best. If a woman is happier working then thats her way of being a mother, she is no better or worse than the mother who stays at home, each "model" is providing and caring in their own way. I mean if the mother hated being at home and wanted to work well she may do a worse job of raising her child because she is unhappy. Once the parents are happy and the kid/s are happy then who cares whether mum or dad work or stay at home. Live and let live folks.