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FyreFlyeRush
member
At A Crossroads...
FyreFlyeRush
member
I'm at a crossroads in life. I'm not sure where to go from here. While on maternity leave, the company I work for lost their contract. My father told me the other day, "If you aren't in a stable enough job to provide security for your kids, you need a sharp kick in the butt." My chosen career and industry is far from stable. I'm in IT and I work as a government contractor. So, now I'm looking at options.
I can try to find a job locally that isn't contract labor. It won't pay as well, but I'm not I'm danger of losing my job every year, or going through a contract renegotiation every 3. However, as technology changes and people move toward outsourcing, I'm becoming as obsolete as the computers I support.
I can look elsewhere. I can make more money and have better stability in Dallas or Houston. There are bigger companies with room for growth beyond what I do. I have family in California and Kansas. Friends in Tulsa. A fresh clean start. But, I like being near my mom, and my daughter only has two years of school before college. Plus, he could fight the move. Although, I think going from no income to income is a significant enough change in status, that the judge would deny his request.
Or, I can take this opening and have a complete midlife crisis. Ditch my dead end career and go back to school. I'd qualify for loans and grants. Free/subsidized child care. They provide a decent stipend. I can stay with my parents. I'd only have to leave LO for a few hours each day, and could use the campus daycare. I might even qualify for family housing down the line. I also have a year of college credits under my belt. I'd only need 3 more.
Opinions, anyone?
I can try to find a job locally that isn't contract labor. It won't pay as well, but I'm not I'm danger of losing my job every year, or going through a contract renegotiation every 3. However, as technology changes and people move toward outsourcing, I'm becoming as obsolete as the computers I support.
I can look elsewhere. I can make more money and have better stability in Dallas or Houston. There are bigger companies with room for growth beyond what I do. I have family in California and Kansas. Friends in Tulsa. A fresh clean start. But, I like being near my mom, and my daughter only has two years of school before college. Plus, he could fight the move. Although, I think going from no income to income is a significant enough change in status, that the judge would deny his request.
Or, I can take this opening and have a complete midlife crisis. Ditch my dead end career and go back to school. I'd qualify for loans and grants. Free/subsidized child care. They provide a decent stipend. I can stay with my parents. I'd only have to leave LO for a few hours each day, and could use the campus daycare. I might even qualify for family housing down the line. I also have a year of college credits under my belt. I'd only need 3 more.
Opinions, anyone?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: At A Crossroads...
1 I'm so sick of help desk. I hate the people. I hate the politics. I hate that people look down on me because it's entry level. I hate that I'm always the fall guy. I hate that everyone wants the Lamborghini of computers, but they only want to pay for a Hyundai. I LOVE working with computers. But, I can easily keep that a hobby.
2 I want to get away from SD. I don't want to block access to LO, but I want that space. It's been proven that MY mental well being directly affects LO's mental well being. Plus, I have no friends here anymore. Once my parents retire, THEY won't be here as often, either.
3 The best chance to make those happen is to go back to school. I can get training and knowledge in something beyond what I'm doing. I can stay in IT, or change to something completely different. It's the scariest of the options. And, the one with the most potential. I can go to seminary school... I can become a probono lawyer... I could become a librarian... A teacher... It's a new lease on life.
I feel as though this juncture in my life is here for a purpose. I've always chosen the path that gets me what I want the fastest in life before. I hasn't always worked out for me. I've been praying for guidance and suddenly, here I am with all these options before me.
I just don't know what to do. Opinion?
Don't move your daughter out of state at this point. My mom moved me half way across the country towards the end of my jr yr in high school and it caused a serious rift between us that took many years to mend. It made me angry b/c she didn't absolutely have to do it. I rebelled big time. My mom now says that if she could take back one thing in her life it would be that move.
Take the two years she has left to get a degree. You could even work one or two evening shifts at a restaurant to have some extra spending money.
This will be hard, but you seem to have the enthusiasm to make it work right now. Once your daughter is out of high school you can look into moving to another state where you have more of a support system.