I need some thoughts

[cam6467]

I'm at a cross roads and would like to hear from you guys.

I have been working construction for the past 3-4 years. Before this, my wife and I were both school teachers. She quit to stay home with the girls while they were young. Well, one of them is due to begin kindergarten next school year and the other is right behind her.

I have recently been admitted to a doctoral degree program at Tarleton. It's looking like I'll need to focus my time and energy toward the degree program if I'm ever going to be successful in it. This means that I will not be able to travel out of town for work as I have been doing the past few years.

Do you guys think it is wise for me to try to talk my wife into returning to work? I'm going to seek a teaching position at the university, and I believe that the pay will be around $30,000 annually before I earn my terminal degree. Another option is for me to return to public school teaching, an option that could yield higher wages than the university position (doctoral research assistant).

What would you guys do?

[westtexducks]

I would work for the university if it were me. Reasoning behind that is once you get your doctorate you would then have your foot in the door so to speak to pursue other higher paying teaching/research positions within the university easier than trying to come in from the outside. I would personally try and let the wife be a stay at home mom until all the kiddos are in school but that's just me.

[cam6467]

I appreciate the advice. My wife and I decided to find a way to let her stay home with the girls three years ago when our youngest was born, but with this recent change in my educational endeavors it is looking like she will have to return to work earlier than we had planned.

I have an appointment with a department head at Tarleton coming up to see about the GA position. I'm hoping that through that and the additional income from an adjunct position at Hill College I can find a way to keep the ship afloat.

I am the owner of a small HVAC company, but I haven't had as much success with it as I'd hoped for when I started. These are tough decisions I'm facing, but I'm convinced that earning my doctorate and entering the world of higher education will prove to be a fruitful endeavor eventually.

[kingchip]

I'd send her back to work now. Yea, I was raised with a stay at home mom, but my wife worked when my two were young. You will be through the doctoral program before you know it.

[BigRed323]

Time for her to go back to work if no kids at home during the day.