Anonymous wrote:I just don't think your 'long commute' option sounds bad since it is only 2 days per week. I would choose the long commute option.

+1 for sure.

I would take A hands down. I would hate to wake up in the morning if I had to go to job #2. Also, you basically go 2 per week and rest can work at home.

A for sure. I have an hour long commute and 2 young kids (with no telework option.)

I would much rather commute for 2 hrs a day twice a week (hell, I would do 5 days/week) to a job I really enjoy, that 10m a day to a job I dread.

OP here. I meant to say that we plan on having children this year, not next. New job has been very accommodating even knowing I'm pregnant. Hopefully I will be busy and excited about the new job, but you never really know until you're there. I wish I could test drive it a few times. I was excited about my current job and it's been bad since day 1.

I have had an hour commute daily in the past and maybe that's why I'm hesitating. Hopefully the telework will negate that.

With my current commute, I have the ability to go home for lunch daily and I also run most of my errands (Target, Costco, grocery) and that's been useful.

1 hour on a bus, now switching? FFS, A.

How flexible job B is? Short commute is definitely a plus with kids, but more important is flexibility.
I had short commute when my twins were born, I used to go home to feed my kids during lunch instead of pumping. Very convenient. But it was dead end job, so once kids got older - I quit for more promising position with longer commute.

In your situation - I would pick A - child is just planned (you don't know how long it would take), 3 days telecommute is awesome, and great coworkers are a must for your mental health (it is quite important during postpartum, ask me how I know )

Definitely A. PPs have made good points - you don't even know for sure when you'll have a baby. And some parents have an hour commute 4-5 times/week.

Telework is also a perk - you can get little things done around the house when you take a break from work. Even with a 5 minute commute, you won't have that opportunity during the day.

Finally, I've found that I can start to resent my job when I'm not challenged and interested. I think, "Why am I wasting my time here when I could be home with my baby?" If you're busy and excited about work, it makes the time away from your child more worthwhile.

Come on, you won't even be driving 1 hour. You'll be able to read or even check/answer emails while commuting.
Take the job.

The three days a week of telework makes A the more palatable option. Build up a good reputation there to get more flexibility when kids come. And don't underestimate what having a job you enjoy means when kids come--if you leave your baby to go somewhere you hate every day, that's a terrible blow to your mental health.

I just don't think your 'long commute' option sounds bad since it is only 2 days per week. I would choose the long commute option.

A for sure!

That is a tough one. I found there were several things I felt completely differently about once I had my first child, things that nobody could tell me I would ever change my mind about. Your short commute is a total of 50 minutes a week. Your long commute, even jut two days a week, is a total of 240 minutes. That is a significant difference, in my opinion. I think you're smart to recognize that will matter more to you once you have a child. That said, if you're a year or more from having a child, I'd probably go for the longer commute but better job. Who knows how long it will take before you have a baby. A year + is a long time to be in a job with no growth potential. Other opportunites you are not thinking of may come along in the new job. Either way, good luck!

Definitely long commute. Too many pros to overlook!

This is a tough decision but if you have the option to work from home 3 days, I will pick the long commute, but this is just me. Even though you have a short commute now but the additional stress and nonsense from coworkers will deplete you of energy pretty quickly.

Pay is the same and is good.

A. Long commute (1 hour door to door on a bus), interesting job, opportunities for advancement, friends work there. More of a program role. 3 days a week telework

B. Short, 5 minute commute, boring, dead end job, very unfriendly coworkers. More of an admin role (hate that). No telework.

I am just really struggling with making my commute longer. We plan on having children in the next year. Job A is perfect for me now. I miss working downtown and I miss the friendly atmosphere. I just am very worried that with a baby I won't care about my dead end job and will wish for the shorter commute. A part of me feels like I'm dying here though, and that the short commute is handcuffing me. Any thoughts? I have the job offer in hand and it's keeping me up at night. They actually created the job offer just for me and have begged me to work there.