My husband is possibly interviewing for a job which would involve minimally 90 days of travel a year - and not within the US, but to developing countries. I think it is very exciting and something he has wanted to do for a long time so I do wish him well in this. So far a head hunter contacted him, he sent in the resume and the contact person for the job found it interesting and is discussing the resume with his colleagues... so 'maybe' an interview will come out of it.
So, things are still in the 'wait and see' stage, but it is one step closer to having to really think this through.
Currently, he works in downtown DC. He's gone 11 hours a day, 5 days a week and sometimes works evenings/weekends. The work is stable (gov't job) and he does find it rewarding, but there's really no way up and he's not really interested in the next level up anyway - way too much work for too little compensation (again, gov't).
So... this position would take him to Latin America and Africa and perhaps Asia. He would go for a couple weeks and then be in his office in DC between times. His salary would definitely go up, by about a 1/3 I gather from looking at the salary data the last few years. More money would be nice, for sure.
Now.... currently, I'm staying at home until our youngest is in school (he'll be 4 in April - so one more year). We also have a 12 year old in 7th grade. If he goes, my role won't change super significantly since I already do the school, homework and afterschool things, but my gut is telling me if he is going to be COMPLETELY gone every 1 out of 4 days a year, trying to work while taking care of everything else will be crazy. If he were gone just a couple days here and back, Ok, but he'll be gone for two weeks (including weekends) and then back a couple weeks and then off again. That takes a LOT of organization and structure to handle that....
but military wives/husbands do it when their spouses are gone for months and obviously single parents do it, but is it a GOOD choice to do when we could possibly manage it with me home?
I miss working, but I also know I have to reeducate (been out for 5 years) and that juggling family and work is hard (BTDT with first sone)....
are there things I'm not thinking about with a spouse that travels so much? I know we'll have to work on keeping the spark, but if he's happy with his work, then that helps.
Any thoughts to help me process this?
So, things are still in the 'wait and see' stage, but it is one step closer to having to really think this through.
Currently, he works in downtown DC. He's gone 11 hours a day, 5 days a week and sometimes works evenings/weekends. The work is stable (gov't job) and he does find it rewarding, but there's really no way up and he's not really interested in the next level up anyway - way too much work for too little compensation (again, gov't).
So... this position would take him to Latin America and Africa and perhaps Asia. He would go for a couple weeks and then be in his office in DC between times. His salary would definitely go up, by about a 1/3 I gather from looking at the salary data the last few years. More money would be nice, for sure.
Now.... currently, I'm staying at home until our youngest is in school (he'll be 4 in April - so one more year). We also have a 12 year old in 7th grade. If he goes, my role won't change super significantly since I already do the school, homework and afterschool things, but my gut is telling me if he is going to be COMPLETELY gone every 1 out of 4 days a year, trying to work while taking care of everything else will be crazy. If he were gone just a couple days here and back, Ok, but he'll be gone for two weeks (including weekends) and then back a couple weeks and then off again. That takes a LOT of organization and structure to handle that....
but military wives/husbands do it when their spouses are gone for months and obviously single parents do it, but is it a GOOD choice to do when we could possibly manage it with me home?
I miss working, but I also know I have to reeducate (been out for 5 years) and that juggling family and work is hard (BTDT with first sone)....
are there things I'm not thinking about with a spouse that travels so much? I know we'll have to work on keeping the spark, but if he's happy with his work, then that helps.
Any thoughts to help me process this?