weemodin

JustaKidAtHeart

Im sorry if I offended you in the post below.  That was not my intention.  BUT in that given situation I would not be the one raising my boys as I wouldnt see them at all during their waking hours with the exception of weekends.  See contract time that you have to me on campus is 8-3,  the drive time without traffic would be an hour each way.  Given the dirrection of travel I would be doing it would be heavy traffic.  I would have to leave the house by 6am.  This would also be my first year and in CA there is a thing called BTSA that you have to do for your first 2 years.  That would keep me at school longer.   Not to mention planning, meetings, correcting, grading, and all the other stuff that comes along with being a teacher.  Then the traffic home.  I would easily be out of the house from 6am-7 or 8pm.  DH would be the one dropping them off at daycare and picking them up.  They are in bed by 7.  So you see why I say I would not be the one raising them.  providing for them yes but I would be a weekend mom. 

weemodin

It does sound like a rough schedule, and I understand your hesitation with returning to work. 

Nonetheless, I disagree that you wouldn't be the one raising them.  I have a fundamental problem with anyone who says that using childcare means that someone else is "raising" your children.  It's a loaded statement, and it is simply not true.  I know this persionally -- on average, during the week I see my kids for about an hour a day, two if I'm lucky.  Some days I don't see them; I am a lawyer and work long hours.  I work late; they go to bed early.  That said, I am still raising them.  They are learning my values -- not the nanny's.  If they are sick and need to be comforted, I am there for them.  They know who mom is, and who dad is.  My husband and I make the rules by which our household is governed; the nanny follows them.  The kids love her, and have a great relationship with her, but she is not raising them.  She is taking care of them during the day.

When your children are school-aged, will you say that the school is raising them since they will spend more waking hours at school than at home?

JustaKidAtHeart

more is one thing not at all is another. 

weemodin

I guess my point is this:  I'd avoid using that sort of phrasing because many working women fundamentally disagree that they are not raising their own children.

I think for your situation, if you don't really need the money to get by, your mind is made up.  You should not take that job.  Perhaps you could get a part-time job more locally, or apply to private schools if you need to work or want experience?  I know the job market for teachers in CA is horrendous right now.  My SIL just finished her post-bach teaching degree in Marin County, and she is terrified about her job prospects.  She's even had trouble finding work as a sub, and she graduated from a higly-regarded program.

I don't think this will be your only chance to use your degree.  Wait until something that works better for your family comes along.