More and more people are wanting to give up their careers. According to a a recent study by the Pew Research Center, just 9 percent of mothers say working full time is best for their kids.

The same study shows more than 46 percent of mothers say working part-time is best for their children.

But, before you bail on your 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., your company may be more female-friendly than you think, and it's worthwhile to find out. Research has shown that it's best for some companies to help high-performing females to balance both work and career.

In fact, major companies like IBM and Deloitte & Touche have launched new initiatives to do just that. (Source:msn.com)

Websites like Kiplinger.com have a variety of financial calculators that can help you determine if you can really afford to make this leap.

If there's no way of getting around, you'll be "making do" without half your former household income. If you're married, you can invest in a Spousal IRA, which allows you to donate between $2,000 and $5,000 per year. Still, it's likely you’ll lose upwards of $1,000,000 in retirement and health benefits by dropping out of the workforce.

It's best to have a plan of attack before jumping into any life change, but talking with a counselor or peer group well versed in this field just might make your decision a little easier.