No, it is not a waste. Education is never a waste. It is ok to want to be a SAHM while your kids are still young. With that said, you had your kids BEFORE racking up a few years of professional experience, so if you wait too long it may be harder to find a job. I am not trying to scare you, but human resources is one of the toughest fields to break into. Just finding an entry level position in this field is like finding a needle in a haystack. It is extremely competitive and positions rarely come up because there are so few to begin with and also because once people get a job in HR they stick to it. I suggest you do what you feel is best for your kids right now which is staying home but try to keep doing something on the side if you can. If you can find a part-time position or do some other HR certificate on the side it will keep your skills up to date and it will show you are still in the game. Also, do not wait too long to get back into the career force. HR is a VERY lucrative career path IF you manage to break into it. Good luck!