Michelle WilliamsOne might think that riding high on the wave of success from her movie My Week With Marilyn that Michelle Williams would be more career-driven than ever, ready to scoop up the next big role. Instead, she's decided to take a break from acting.

The reason? To hang out with her 6-year-old daughter, Matilda. She recently told E!: "I just want to go back to being a mom for a while." Last year, she explained to OK! just how difficult it is to leave her daughter, and pretty much summed up the feelings of moms who work outside of the home everywhere:

Even when I'm working I still think about her and can't wait to get back to her at the end of the day ... raising my daughter is my absolute priority.

It's one of the most pressing issues of virtually every woman I know -- do we work or do we stay home with our children? First of all, neither is a "break," but I don't think she means to imply that at all. Rather it sounds like she's struggling with what the rest of us do every day.

The "mommy wars" (as the controversy regarding this choice has annoyingly been dubbed) are huge, and we've seen them fought a thousand different ways. But none of it makes each individual woman's choice any less difficult ... no matter how easy anyone says theirs is for them. Michelle is lucky enough to take a break and spend uninterrupted time with her daughter, knowing that when and if she's ready, Hollywood will likely welcome her back with open arms. So it will all be on her terms.

How nice if we all had that luxury to wade back in and out of the working waters so easily. Most of us spend our days wishing for or at least imagining the opposite of what we've chosen. I thought I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom a couple of years back and up and quit my job. A few months later, I realized that was not what was good for me or my family, and I was lucky enough to find a new job. I'm happy I did go back to work, but it doesn't mean that there aren't days -- many days -- when I question my choice.

I for one can't wait to watch and see how this works out for Michelle and how long her "break" lasts. If approached with an amazing role, will that be what sends her back to work? Will it be the stress or boredom, which, let's face it, motherhood can come with? Will it just be sense that it's the right time for her? Or will she love the time with her daughter so much that nothing will make her go back? Like it is for everyone, it's her personal decision and no one should judge her for it no matter what happens.

Are you surprised to learn that Michelle Williams is taking a break to spend time with her daughter? How long do you think it will last?


Image via Splash