Other women who've been working since they were twenty will now have retirement income. Not me. I stayed home. I got the joy of watching every step of my children's infancy and childhood. Now I'm stuck with just me.

As I make my way out into the sunshine, I sure would love to hear what other people have to say about being "just a homemaker" and what happens next.

Changing careers in middle age is very different than in the life periods before or after. Middle age is traditionally the peak earning period in most people's careers. It is the time when workers achieve their highest rank, their fattest salaries, and their most prestigious achievements. But it's also the time that we have perspective on what makes us happy and if our current career path doesn't entail sufficient satisfaction (or future promise), then for many of us it's time to make a change. »more»