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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As a single mom, without any support network, I would not encourage you to give that up. It's very stressful to be the only person who can pick up DS (and I only have one!) when sick, to take to dentist and doctor appointments, to cover on snow days when preschool is closed... When he needs forms filled out (summer camp involved a lot of health forms), I find it stressful to get these filled out. There are a lot of other things you probably take for granted, too: if I forget to buy something at the grocery store and then I want to cook tomorrow's dinner after DS goes to bed, I'm screwed. If I get a cold, he watches a lot of movies and we limp by.

Assuming you still want to do this, I have one other item you might consider.

[b]For us (and I only have one, so I get it's different), I exchanged a commute for space.[/b] We are in a highrise and we do not have a lot of space. But I spend 15 -20 minutes on my commute, and I prefer to have the time with DS. We go to playgrounds and free concerts and try not to be a nuisance to our neighbors (he's LOUD because he's 4), and he probably has fewer toys than most of his cohort, but I really think for us this is a good choice.

GL![/quote]

We do the same.   I live in a great neighborhood in N. Arlington and we live in a 2 bedroom building (1 DC).  Our commute is about 15 min and he does to pre-K across from my office so we get time together during the commute.  Next year we'll walk to kindergarten.  His school is on the way to the metro and is only 2 stops from my office. Our dentist is about 3 blocks away and when we can't get to the pediatrician there is a minute clinic about 1/4 mile away.  So if you are willing to give up some space you can live in a nice apt building, close to the metro in a nice walking neighborhood were you can easily get to anything you need.  Having to drive 15-20 min to the grocery store eats up time in your day.   You can do it.  You just have to be firm with your new office about your in-office working hours.  "I can only come in @ X and I have to leave by X"  but I can work from home if needed.  As someone mentioned try to see if you telework a day or two a week.

While admittedly I raise one kid on much more than $80K per year, I have a friend who raises 2 on about $70K.  They don't have the big luxuries but they are happy.

Good Luck with whatever you choose![/quote]

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