Can you help me think this through please (long)

freeatlast2014

Option 1:

I currently work part-time at a community college. My boss knows my entire situation and has been extremely flexible and helpful. She has been in a domestic violence situation herself, was a single mother, and is very successful. Her current husband is a retired attorney who now serves as an expert in domestic violence and custody cases and has been a resource I could (and have) called day and night. The college is closed on Fridays in the summer, a week after Christmas, and has great benefits. I am only part-time but they assure me a full time offer is coming (first it was 7/1, then 8/1, now who knows) but they love me and don't want to lose me. The pay will be ok, not great. I will be using my graduate degree in this position.

Option 2:

Outside sales position for the company I worked at for almost 7 years. It's pressure (as is all sales) but I will be on the road. Some of the locations I will need to visit are rather far 45 minutes to an hour with no traffic. There is slightly less flexibility as I have numbers I will need to hit so not as much time off. I can work a half of a day or full day from home almost weekly. They have great benefits and the pay will be about double Option #1. I will need to go away for 1 week for training (I have a 2 and 3 year old and a stbxh who is less than accommodating and helpful so this could be tricky). I could potentially lose my job if I don't hit my numbers but that would take a while. My 2nd year into this I will be well over 6 figures in income. The hours are definitely longer during the day, I will need to commute, and I will need to do some work at home at night. I will not be using my graduate degree for this. **Edited to add this is part salary part commission, about 50/50 so not a guarantee with the commission but likely**

WWYD? I need to support my kids on my income and not rely on what my stbxh will give. But is the time and flexibility worth more than the money?

Monkeybird84

Honestly, nobody can really answer this for you since what works for someone else may not work for you. That said, I would personally go with the first option since time with my son is more important to me than a six-figure income. Good luck with your decision. Just do what you feel is right for you and your kids. There is no right or wrong answer in your situation, just what you feel is best.

MinnesotaMomma91

Monkey bird hit the nail on the head here i think.

freeatlast2014

Yes I realize no one can answer this...I'm just so torn. It's scary doing this on my own and I'm afraid to take a chance or make a mistake. I've already made enough mistakes that gravely affect my kids.

tig594

Being able to support your kids is priority #1. Will the base pay at job #2 be enough to do that? The commission is just gravy you can't depend on. As long as job #1 payed the bills and kept food on the table i personally would choose that one. My DD will only be young once and i want to miss as little as possible.

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20thirteen

Monkeybird84 said:

Honestly, nobody can really answer this for you since what works for someone else may not work for you. That said, I would personally go with the first option since time with my son is more important to me than a six-figure income. Good luck with your decision. Just do what you feel is right for you and your kids. There is no right or wrong answer in your situation, just what you feel is best.

I agree with the bolded the most.  If I got a new job that paid triple what I make now, but required me to see less of DD (which I already feel like I barely see her), I would turn it down.  

jellybean529

Ditto the above. Before we moved I was working at a marketing agency which required some long hours. I saw DD for about 2 hours a day and during that time I was STRESSED. I would most definitely take the lower pay/lower stress/more family time option.