Decisions

A while back I posted about maybe trying to move towards a new career. Lately, I've been on the side of trying to do more with what I can already do.

So, a couple of weeks ago I applied for two jobs, one full-time and one part-time. I had an interview for the part-time job last week, and I think it went really well. Depending on the offer, if I got one, I could either take the job and drop one of my freelance clients, or I could combine the job and my freelance work to make a full-time schedule.

Just to make things more complicated, the day after I sent in my applications for the above jobs, my main freelance client offered me more work. And then a few days after that, my other freelance client offered me a full-time contract position — mine for the taking (but poorly paid, no vacation or sick days, and mind-numbing work). And then I emailed my former boss to ask him to be a reference for me, and HE offered me some work. I had to laugh.

And now the same company that has the part-time job also has a full-time position open.

What to do, what to do?

The key to the decision is daycare. Andrew currently goes to a dayhome that we are happy with two days a week. Unfortunately his provider cannot give us any more than that. I would like to increase to three days a week at the very least, but I should also be considering full-time.

I love having so much time with Andrew. I am so fortunate that I've been able to work part-time for so long. Am I ready to give that up? Do we NEED me to work full-time?

Well, we're making ends meet. We rarely have anything left over for savings, and that makes me nervous, but we're okay. We could conceivably continue as we are for a couple more years. But savings would be really good, especially if we hope to have another baby. And on the subject of having another baby, if I worked full-time, I would have a better-paid maternity leave.

I've done a lot of math, and in most scenarios, the difference between my part-time income minus part-time daycare and my potential full-time income minus full-time daycare is only about $300/month. Is that enough to make me give up my extra days with my little boy? If not, how much would be enough?

Also there's the question of whether we can find affordable full-time daycare that we'd be happy with. I toured two places this week, one centre and one dayhome, and am not sure about either one.

This is so hard. Can someone please come figure it out for me?