Would you quit working to stay home with your doodles? UPDATE!!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Okay, now I think I have gone over the edge. I am needing some serious therapy! In this economy, I am considering leaving a job so that I can be home with my doods.

Well, that's not the whole story. The job is beyond stressful, I have an hour drive in traffic to and from work everyday. Yes, 2 hours a day in traffic. It's a government job with so many responsibilties that I can't be away from it for more than a day without something needing attention. I have to travel around the state for 1-2 nights at a time and often. DH is retired and wants to go off for the summer and travel in our little toy hauler trailer, I have my only grandson (18 months)moving from Florida to be here in Az with son and DIL in March and they could use some grandma babysitting, and I have sorely neglected my own physical health due to this job. But having said all that, I think missing my doodles so much just puts the last straw on the poor camels back.

Could we afford it? Let's just say we wouldn't starve and the dogs would still get Fromm dog food.

SO what's a doodle mom to do? Any words of wisdom DK'ers?

UPDATE:

Well, with much consideration and re-reading all of your posts and talking to DH and mom and kids, I handed in my resignation yesterday. I will be leaving Feb 18th and it appears it will be considered "Mission Critical" by the Bureau and they will try to fill my position ASAP.  On top of that my son is bringing his family to Arizona a month earlier, which gives me just 3 weeks to get ready for them to move in for a few months and toddler proof my house.  I started the Adventure Bootcamp on Tues and now workout 4 mornings a week and a girlfriend invited me to join her stroller exercise club so I can take my grandson with me too!  I have quilts lined up in my head that I plan to do and some for DK as well !

So, I want to thank everyone for helping me to make a very important decision and I can't tell you how happy you have made Murphy, Bella, DH and ME!!!! Thank you again. You are all the best!

[shelly]

QUIT!  Life's too short!  (Easy for ME to say though)... "do it!  Do it!..DO IT !"

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

RETIRE!!!!! and enjoy yourself.  This is our goal for 2011 - if we can afford to.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Well "affording" it is the biggest scare, but like I said, we won't starve and the puppies still will get Fromm. You know as well as I do as we get older, we really don't NEED much so we are at that point where an empty room in the house because we can't spend $$$ on furniture is really not so bad. Actually, my son has already claimed it as my grandson's PLAYROOM!!!  So there you go. Match made in heaven. Besides, he has enough toys to fill it quite nicely so no expense needed! 

[Michael Gurley]

DO IT!!!!!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

Well shoot, I think that if you can afford to, stay home. Not just for your furry babies sake but because it seems like you can afford to. Your grandbaby is going to be here etc. My mothers friend died today, he worked for so long and put retirement off that he never got to be retired for one single day before he died. To me, that is just so sad.

 

I say enjoy your life while you can. I am a RN, and I have some serious lung issues and I have to be home. I love being home with Jack, though I love my job too. When I work, I work one day a week and Jack goes to either daycare or to my friends house to play with her dog for the day.

If you have more then one dog, certainly leaving them home is okay because they have each other. One dog should not be left home for long periods of time on a regular basis. Lets face it, Golden Doodles love to socialize.

[Judi, David & Maddie Irishdoodle]

Sue I think you need to think of your physical and mental health, taking care of your doods, being a grandma and spending some relaxing times with your DH.

You go girl - hand in your resignation and enjoy the best years of your life.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Thank you Judi. As women we do put ourselves last sometimes. These doodles really make me rethink the simple joys in life.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I retired when my husband decided he couldn't take the Michigan winters any longer.  Being a MI girl all my life I don't find 3 or 4 feet of snow to be a problem but here we (mostly me as DH works still out of NYC) are.  I'm 53 and lucky me - I didn't need to work so I never got my career going in FL (would have to get a new license).  Non working life is WONDERFUL!!!!  And it would not only give you precious time with your doodles but it would give you time to focus on getting your physical self where it needs to be.  GO FOR IT!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I just wrote a response and deleted it, because it was way too wordy.  Bottom line, I was worried about retiring too, and now I have a really hard time figuring our WHY I was worried.  For me, it has been awesome!  I get to set my own schedule; the only meetings I have to attend are with the non-profits that I volunteer with (and those are fun); I got to take all the classes I always wanted to but didn't have time for; I can take "sick days" or "snow days" with no pressure; I get to help out my kids and spend irreplaceable time with the grandkids; DH and I are having fun (amazing what a stress free life can do for a relationship); I only spend my time now doing things that bring real value (versus "shareholder return"); and I have time to truly enjoy my Doodles.  What's not to like?  If you can afford it....DO IT!  Oh, and I forgot about Sunday nights (how I used to dread them)....no more!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Ha! It's Sunday, and here I am packing for yet another 2 days travel for work and yes...DREADING it again. What am I thinking???? I am just too old for this!  And Jane, you hit the nail on the head....Having fun with DH. We have NO FUN now.  I am either at work, or home working, or getting ready for work, or cleaning the house before I go to work on monday or shopping for clothes for work, or filling the car with gas for work.....you know the routine.  I appreciate you long reply as I did recieve it before you deleted it, so it was meant for me to ready your words. Thank you thank you thank you Oh Queen of the Hopeless Doodles mommies.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Sue, I think you have answered you own question with that first sentence.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Now that you made me re-read it, it does sound like I have answered my own question. Sometimes I don't see the forrest for the trees.