As a mother of a 15mo old, I couldn't agree with Kyle more here. I've been playing since WoW landed, and always raiding, even meeting my hubby in one of my old raiding guilds. In the last month I sat down and reevaluated my raiding desire however. Sure, the kiddo went to sleep half way through a raid, and Naxx was easy enough to take care of bottles and diapers during trash [I'm just a moonkin so the group could leave me behind or on follow on someone easy between bosses]. But then Ulduar and ToC hit, no trash between bosses, or at least not enough to make it easy for me.

Then there was the fact that I didn't get to see my husband a lot. He's a service plumber, gets home late sometimes, just enough time to -maybe- scarf down some food at the table and rush to the comp for invites. Then he was asleep about 2 hours before the raid got over. The last month I took a vacation from wow, getting things ready for our wedding on Halloween, and I have to say, being able to relax and go to bed after the wee one was asleep was awesome.

As a parent, especially as the primary caregiver, not only do you have to weigh the pros and cons of being able to have time for the raiding; but you have to weigh the pros and cons of how it will affect the time frames of the people around you. Also, if you do decide to raid, don't let it consume you. It's easy to let happen, so watch for it. When you start to put off responding to the children as they learn new things [like hand you things and say "thank you"] then it may be time to reevaluate your situation again.

Children don't stay little long, they don't want to be held while they have that bottle, or sit still on yoru lap and watch what you are doing. Cherish those moments before they slip away.