Career question? Women only?

Question

I just graduated college and I am engaged. I am split between two different career paths. One is something I love but doesn't guarantee good money, it also is more accommodating to being a mother in the long run. The other job is more intense, pays good, and probably not as accommodating to raising children. My fiance has an average paying job. I know this is a decision only I can make, but I just want some different opinions.

Answer 1

I am a mom of two, (5 & 7) and have loved staying at home to take care of them full time. I have a couple of friends that I know love kids, too, but after having babies, they realized that they didn't actually love taking care of them 24/7, and they went back to work fairly soon. They are great moms, too, just with different schedules. My point is, think about what is important to you two, and just what is most "accommodating" to raising children, for you. I always wish we had more money for vacations, but it would have broken my heart to drop them off at the babysitter to go to work every day. Even after a long night with a fussy baby! :) Now that they're school-age, I am looking forward to interacting more with grown-ups on a daily basis! It's give and take, for sure. Getting up every morning and going to a job and working hard all day for your family is a very important thing for a mom or dad to do. Who is sacrificing more or working harder, the parent who leaves the kids in the morning or the parent who stays with the kids? I guess my final thought would be that if you're thinking of passing up a better paying job to be able to spend more time with your kids, see how much "quality time" you can actually handle. :) Some people are fried to a crisp after spending an entire day with a baby or a toddler (or both at once), so see if you can get a "real-life-sized" dose of a little person or two for a good length of time, if you haven't already. Other people are fried to a crisp after a stressful day at work, and are scraping the bottom of the barrel by the time they get home, and at that point a person has nothing left to give, and that's not where you want to be, either. Or if you're thinking of passing up spending more time with your kids to have a higher-paying job, explore what kinds of demands this job would make on you versus the benefits. Money doesn't solve everything, but I'm telling you, it's one thing to deprive yourself because you don't have the money. But wait till you can't do something that you really want to for you child, because you don't have the money. That stings, let me tell you. Now doesn't that make your decision easier? :) Best wishes to you.

Answer 2

The question is where do you want to be short term (1-2 year) and long term (4-5 years) from now.

This first job is most likely not your last job, so you have to decide what you want from that first job, and generate transferrable skills that you can use in your future career plans.

I suggest you sit down and create some 1-2 year goals for what you want to accomplish.

It sounds like you want to raise a family, so consider what types of skills you want to develop before you take time to have children so you can possibly use them in a self-employed or consultant, or for when you re-enter the workforce - be it 3-4 months or several years.

Good luck with your future!

Answer 3

I took the family and job that doesn't pay so well but I love how everything has turned out. My husband has been able to get a great job and now money is not a problem. Hope every thing turns out for the best.

Answer 4

Pick your priorities. What is right for one is not for the other.

You want lots of stuff? Or do you want a family?

Also, remember that you can change your mind!

I went to serious career path, not even having a kid until I was 30.

Guess what? The little bigger changed everything and before you know it I was a stay at home mom.

You are young, life paths are not straight lines. You are going to find new paths that you had no idea existed as you mature.

Answer 5

Instead of giving you an opinion, please allow me to share my own story.

I'm one of those women who like to have it all - a career, a marriage and a family (kids). Got married at age 20, balanced my full time job, my studies (Masters degree) & the novelty of making home...my salary went to savings and my husband's went to our subsistence & everything else. After 2 yrs., got my MA & transferred to a higher paying job. Then hubby (an engineer) decided to pursue an MBA degree. Took 5 sems but was on an academic scholarship (thankfully!). Right after graduation was given a 3-step promotion...AND, we were pregnant! But alas it was a difficult pregnancy (the kind that required complete bedrest). I took an indefinite leave of absence...laid in bed for months...gave birth (my highest achievement!)...went back to work when my baby was 6 mos...after just 3 days, turned in my resignation...decided to just stay home (loved it!)...was a full time mom to my son... resumed my career when he started schooling.

Got married in Dec 1970; my son was born in May 1974...my only child. Am still married to the same guy.

I thank my lucky stars for my happy story. Yes, you can have it all.

Answer 6

You need to pick what's best for children soon to come. They will need full attention and even though the may may not be as good, it's still the best decision in my opinion. Growing children need all the attention they can get, so you can raise them how you want them instead of them copying lifestyles of others.

Answer 7

Having a decent paying job is very important. I would go with the better paying job and cut the number of children I want down. You have a spouse who can help with child care and with the extra money you can afford a babysitter or daycare.

Answer 8

Take the job you love!! You never know where it could take you in the future. You may well be able to make loads of money from it at a lata stage because you can bring passion to it. Best of luck :-)

Answer 9

i have met a lot of CEO's, and that i did not like a number of of them. On my first day of work at a inn, I keep in mind, a guy requested for a advice for a eating position, and that i suggested, "to be honest, I moved to this city about 3 weeks in the past so i'm no longer particular, yet, enable me grab someone who may know." He says, "particular, yet enable me allow you to know... i'm a CEO, and that is no longer a CEO way of searching at issues!" I smiled, nodded, and suggested, "sturdy, because i have honestly no favor to be a businessperson in any respect." He replaced into honestly taken aback that someone would not want to be the tremendous individual on the accurate of the progression with the vast table and many cronies. i have met a lot of medical doctors and attorneys and professors who I loved, and lot whom i did not, and their gender had honestly no longer some thing to do with my opinion of them. by ability of nature, i locate myself oftentimes repulsed by ability of overly-aggressive style-A personalities; i do not harbor any ills in the route of them and entirely repsect the area that they play in society, in spite of the undeniable fact that that's not my personality and it not in any respect will be. i'm frequently incompatible with those who've this kind of personality, from what my existence's memories have taught me... i'm truly mellow, even-surpassed and more beneficial fed on with the human situation than how varied my protfolio is. i imagine no more beneficial or a lot less of a persons'' occupation at the same time as they look a mum or dad, both.

Answer 10

Nothing is worse than having a job that you hate going to everyday. You end up miserable, then take it home. Its not worth it.