Wanting to quit..

[treeholm]

First of all, keep coming here to get support!!!! I started last September, and while I enjoy it for the most part, there have been days when I questioned the wisdom of doing this..... like in February when we couldn't go outside. I kept picturing the alternative: going back into a high-powered academic position with lots of professional jealousy, bullying, politics, whiny students, having to possibly take a job in the GTA (2 hour commute even without traffic), new vehicle (mine is 14 years old with 200,000 km on it), wouldn't see my grandbabies except on weekends, and the list goes on. It takes me about 5 minutes to decide to be happy doing this LOL! I'm my own boss, make a decent income, I'm home for my grandchildren, gardening etc., get my chores done during the day so I can relax or do fun stuff after 5:30 pm in a quiet house, kids are cute, parents appreciate me, when the weather is nice I walk for over an hour with the kids in the quad stroller, spend time at the park with my friends all morning, come home and put the kids to bed after lunch.... this is so much better than my career as a professor!
The support here on this site got me started and keeps me going. That said, this may not be the career for you, and that's okay too. I would suggest you make a list of the pros and cons. You say that if you work elsewhere you will break even after daycare. That is important to remember. You might be better off staying home and working part-time somewhere so that you wouldn't need daycare. Lots of options! You may just need to do some brainstorming and deep thinking about your family's needs, your needs etc. Or you may just need a few sunny days at the park to help you like this again!