I figured that I'd spend my maternity leave nursing a baby, praying for sleep and watching mindless TV on those handful of days when she actually took long naps in her crib.

Instead, I considered the course of my career. And I quit my job. I'm still on maternity leave, but my last official day is Friday.

It's not a decision I ever thought I'd be making now. I first started working in newspapers nearly 20 years ago as a teen correspondent for a newspaper in Syracuse, N.Y. And I love pretty much all of it ... the banter in the newsroom, the rush of a big story, even the bad pizza on election night.

Two years ago, my duties changed for the better when we began working on TriangleMom2Mom. I've truly enjoyed sharing what I know about family-friendly events and destinations around the Triangle and chatting with all of you online. And it's allowed me the flexibility to spend more time with my daughter.

But as you may know, the newspaper industry isn't doing so well these days. There have been rounds of voluntary buyouts and layoffs at the paper. I've seen so many colleagues go. But I never considered leaving until now.

I was rocking my baby to sleep when an editor called me a few weeks ago to let me know that staffers were being offered voluntary buyouts again.

This time was different. My job would change when I returned. There likely would have been more late nights and a less flexible schedule. That meant less time with my girls.

The one thing that I've learned in my four short years as a mom is that I can't afford to live with regrets. I'll never regret all the days I left the office earlier than most everybody else to pick up my daughter from daycare. Or all the stories I didn't volunteer for because I knew it would mean less time at home. But I'll never forget the times my daughter sobbed good night into the phone because I was working and couldn't make it in time for bedtime as promised.

Now I have two little girls who need me. The decision was easier to make.

The great Teresa Leonard, who has helped me with the site since the beginning and is running it now since I went on leave, will continue to manage Mom2Mom. Be nice to her because she has a million other jobs at the paper as well.

My plan is to do some freelance work. And I'll be checking in on Mom2Mom every once in a while.

But for now, I'm taking it easy. After three weeks of focusing on my job, I'm ready to focus on my own family again. Here's hoping for some sleep and a little mindless TV.

Maybe I'll see you on the playground.