Giving up full time career to stay at home

I find it hard to believe that here I am after 27 years since my first son was born, and I'm still putting my career second.

At first I thought I would do this for a couple of years, but 2 years turned into 4 years, and by the time he was 5 I was back at work full time.  It did take a few months to get back into my career, but things were really looking up for me professionally after another couple of years.  Fast forward another 2 more and now my daughter arrived in 1990.  I thought I owed her the same dedication and time, and so I stayed home or worked part-time doing other things until she was 5 years old.  By then I was in the middle of a divorce, and in addition to going back to work I had to single parent my kids.  This immediately put me into setting my career into 2nd place, because I could not give 100%.

Another 5 years go by, and my career is pretty much at a standstill.  However, I was moving along turtle-like, and calling myself successful, or better said "surviving". 

Soon enough I skyrocketed and was traveling all over the world.  Before I knew it I remarried a wonderful man.  He came with a combo pack, 4 little ones of his own.  And there it was, a 4 year old and a 6 year old with us full time to care for while I kept down an international job.  That was not possible. After less than a year, I had to resign and find a way to compensate for our shrinking income.  Fortunately my wonderful husband made a good living and we could survive.  But once more, my career was put in 2nd place.

I decided to go back to school during this time and pursue a Masters in Transpersonal Studies (Mind, Body, Spirit Wellness).  It took me 4 years to do it on a part-time basis.  I worked on and off, but could never devote myself to work.

Eventually I developed a small practice, and worked part-time with a local church.  When my husband was laid off recently I went back to work in corporate America to try and save our home, which after 9 months could not happen.  And I found I could no longer adjust.  I am first and foremost a homemaker and mother.  I have been with my husband now for 10 years, and we have 6 wonderful children and 2 grandchildren.  In many cases I am also called upon to watch my grandchildren, which I treasure terribly.

Now, as I look back on my life, knowing I was never able to build a stable career, never really succeeded at my job, I question if I did the right thing?

I love my children, who are great well adjusted kids, and I love my little part-time practice which barely pays for my website.  So did I do the right thing?  Today, at least, I think so.