I stay home because I like my kids more than any other job...plus I am a teacher, so leaving my kids to go be with kids, isn't really a break! Though I would stay home at least most of the time regardless.
I do think new moms need breaks, I found mine in girls nights out, book clubs, game nights, and just plain putting the kids to bed early enough to enjoy my married life. (though that does tend to result in more kids
.)
Financially teachers don't get paid more than the day care would cost, so it works for us that way too, though I would do it regardless.
I also homeschool, Which I do for MANY reasons, one of the most important being the quality/speed of education. One on one with me doing anything they need is much more efficient than a class of 30 where role call has to be done children must be lined up and all must share the one or two teachers in the room (even if I did need to do role call it only takes a second with three! and sharing mommy with your brother and sister is far easier than sharing with 29 other children)