Blues of Motherhood

I always thought I could manage it and have it all. And I did. For some time. Then, on my daughter's 11th birthday, I couldnt be there. It killed me. Then, her studies started to decline. She's a bright kid, but misses a lot of school due to her asthma. She makes up for it if I'm around (or my husband -- when I was travelling, he taught her, and the marks demonstrate it). But when we cant, and ask her if she'll cope, she always says yes. But she cant. Poor girl. Dont blame her.
For 11 years, I haven't ever felt guilty about leaving my kid to the maids. Today, when the quality of her education suffers, I do. And we are those kinds of parents who are fine with average marks -- average marks that really mean average -- 60%, no more. But yet, the joy and pride AND ego of a parent whose kid gets 85-90%, which our daughter gets when we hand hold her -- is a lot to give away for letting her just cope on her own and get a 60% (except in subjects where she is a natural).
It's a tough call. Many friends (read mothers) have quit working in these crucial years. Is that the right way to go, when you have taught your child to be responsible and independent? When I look back, my marks have never counted -- I'm doing very different stuff from what I studied for anyway. So is my husband.
So I wonder -- how much of this dilemma worth it in the long run?

THINGS ONLY A MOM CAN TEACH

My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION ..."Just wait until your father gets home."
My Mother taught me about RECEIVING ..."You are going to get it when we get home!"
My Mother taught me to MEET A CHALLENGE ..."What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you ... Don't talk back to me!"
My Mother taught me LOGIC ..."If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."
My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE ..."If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."
My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD ..."If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get good job."
My Mother taught me ESP ..."Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you're cold?"
My Mother taught me HUMOR ..."When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT..."If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
My Mother taught me about SEX ..."How do you think you got here?"
My Mother taught me about GENETICS ..."You're just like your father."
My Mother taught me about my ROOTS ..."Do you think you were born in a barn?"
My Mother taught me about WISDOM OF AGE ..."When you get to be my age, you will understand."
And my all time favorite... JUSTICE..."One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you. Then you'll see what it's like."