So conflicted!

[Laura_A]

I posted this on FB, so it's old news to some of you. lol So, I finished Dental Assisting school last May and did my internship in Oral & Maxillofacial surgery. TOTALLY loved it! I want to stay in surgery. I don't need to work...I'd like to, but I only want to work part time so I can still be there for the girls. They are 11 & 13 and I know they're old enough to be home by themselves (especially with our GSD) for a bit, but aside from my 2 month internship, I've never worked since they were born. The extra spending money would be great, but not a necessity.

Anyway, I had an interview today for an oral surgical asst and it went really well. They seemed to be ready to offer me the job but they were concerned about the amount of hours I was willing to work. They would need me to work 8:30-2:00 m, t, w & fri which is totally doable (the girls wouldn't even notice I'm gone), but in the summer, it would be "full time" (which is never actually 40 hrs in the dental field) so I'd have to work 8:30-4:30 m, t & th and 8:30-2:00 on fri...plus, it's a 30 min drive one way. It's good money and what I really want to do, but I'm so worried that my kids will feel neglected and I won't be able to keep up with everything during the summer. ACK! So torn.

 

[yari]

OK I can see why you are torn. That is a tough decision. I don't know if you are religious at all or anything but if you pray, I would say make a decision and then pray about it. Ask your Heavenly Father if that decision is right for you. This is a process that I use in my personal life. I'm sorry that I don't have any other suggestions but am pretty sure you will get great advice here.

 

[YepBrook]

I personally wouldn't do it. Full time in the summer would be the deal breaker for me. Summer fun with your girls and the flexibility to do things whenever is something you might miss. I think there is a season for all things, and someday when they are older you will have lots of time to fill with an awesome job like that. I can look back on my childhood and 13 was precisely when I needed my mom the most... To be there and available to talk to be and just be my mom. Of course, I almost always choose to be with my kids. I'm a homeschooler & sham. so, this is just from my perspective... Although I can totally see how it would be tempting to take that job.

BUT... What if you turn it down and right around the corner is another opportunity for a similar job without the heavy summer schedule?

 

[yari]

One thing to consider is that your girls are approaching those teenage years that are pretty crucial. Just something to consider.

 

[ripal]

Since you've always been home, it will be a huge adjustment for you AND girls specially in the summer time. We all know the advantages of staying home with kids. I don't see any disadvantage in it. No one will come up and say.. only if I didn't spend so much time with my kids, I would've been better off! LOL I've only been with my kids at home during summertime once.. I LOVED every minute of it!

However, if you do decide to take a job, I would like to give you the perspective of working mom. You've raised your kids to be responsible kids. They know your expectations. If you have decent arrangement for day care, you/they should be ok. Even if you come home at 5-5:30, you still have plenty of time in summer days to spend with your girls. Would you be off on Wednesdays? If that's the case, it's only 3 days that you would 'miss out' on. Friday is another early day. It can be done. You'll still have plenty of time to reconnect with girls each day. Now, I'm not claiming that you won't give up some sleep hours. But nothing comes without a price! Like I said, since this is the first job after having kids, it will be an adjustment and you might want to wait a year or two.. but is there ever a right time to step out? It's the matter of balancing act.

 

[rach3975]

I think it depends how likely you would be to get another job with part time hours. I know you said you don't have to work, but since you went back to school and put in that time and money, it sounds like you want to. If job prospects in your area and your specialty are pretty good, then I'd hold out and see if you can get something with a better schedule. But if you've been looking for a while or there aren't many practices near you who'd need someone part time year round, then I'd take this one. It would probably be a hard adjustment this summer if they're used to having you with them all summer, but I think that will be true even if you were working and commuting until 3.

 

[nun69]

I agree with Rachel. And it sound slike a really awesome opportunity for YOU . I know you have always been home with them, but kids do adjust. My kids have had to adjust for the past 20 years while they traveled with mom in the Navy and they have turned out pretty good so far. Another thought is, ask the girls what THEY think about you taking the job? If they would be willing to give you up for those hours over the summertime to do something they you honestly would really like the opportunity to pursue. And of coarse you could give the job a shot and in 2 months decide it is not for you or something doesn't work out and you can go back to being a SAHM I say give it a shot....again it will be HARD on everyone, but it can be done My DH and I both work 40 hours a week and our kids are 20/12/7/5

 

[Valgal]

My thought... pass it up. You're not broke and I KNOW you'll be even more torn this summer when you could be spending quality time with your girls. Can you work with them for a few months till the girls are out of school and then have something to put on your resume?