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[quote=Anonymous][quote]
I'm currently facing this dilemma. DH makes enough that we can comfortably live without my salary. I have a fairly flexible job - only 1 day in office per week but I need to be at my computer most of the day. We have two kids 15 and 12 who I am constantly shuttling around and I do almost all of the housework - cooking, laundry, driving to school and activities. I would like to spend the last few years that my kids are at home spending time with them and having the flexibility to travel, take them on adventures, etc. However, I worry that I will regret leaving my job once they go to college. I don't particularly find my job fulfilling but it does make some extra money and gives me something to do. Any thoughts on what you would do in my situation. I understand I'm fortunate to have this choice[/quote]

Reading your post, this is not about money (which most people here are focused on) but about direction and purpose.

I would probably try a few things. First, if you are not in therapy maybe it's time to start, as a way to map out what you want for the next X decades. Or do it on your own, but dedicate time to it, through a guided process (coaching, journaling, whatever). The issue is that you are not feeling attached to what you do, and there is no longer much of a financial impetus to keep doing it, but you do not have a vision for what you want to do next or even how you really want to spend the next few years.

Second, as you try to work through your vision of what's next, use some of the money you are earning to outsource what you can--definitely laundry, tidying and probably a lot of the cooking if you hire a competent housekeeper. Or, reduce your hours at work, so that you have more free time, and take that time with the kids to travel, etc. If you can't reduce hours on a weekly basis, can you take more leave (paid or unpaid) for longer trips?

Third, sit with this for a while. Also know that no choice is totally irrevocable forever. You can leave your job now, spend a couple years with the kids home and figuring stuff out and return to the work force in some capacity later. You may not recover the level of professional/financial success you have now, but it doesn't sound like that's necessary in the future.

I can somewhat relate because we finally have enough financial security that I could probably leave my job, but I have also spent a lot of time getting to where I am (like one of the previous posters, it required a phd, several moves, and just a lot of work) and am in the middle of a multi-year project, after which I could retire. At the same time, I'm tired now and not spending a lot of time with the kids and knowing I have some financial flexibility it does make it hard at times. I also need something else to do but I haven't figured that out yet so am starting to think about what has been missing from my life, what I would like to do. Yes, travel, but thats not day to day. I also need to figure out purpose and putting my skills to use and building a community. [/quote]

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