Give me your opinion........

Dawn, I say to follow your heart. I am sure the money would be great with the office Job but is it worth the time without your kids? I would go for the interview and see what happens and then follow your heart. Good luck with your decision. ~~hugs and well wishes~~ Chris ps.... I am still waiting for the funny story..remember you peaked my curiosity...

Of course, you will be successful anywhere, in any environment-----. For me, health insurance is very important (especially here in Monterey county where we have some of the most expensive medical care in the US). I would love to be a full time SAHM, but I carry our medical so I work at the lowest level possible to maintain that. However, I think that if you are working at a gym you will continue to make your health a priority. It's a quandary---keep us posted--- Cathy

My 2 cents is like all the others... If you can handle working less hours, making less money, but doing a job you love and is healthy for you... You Go For It GIRL!!! I think you will be so much happier... and being a trainer is something you can always use... especially once you have "experience" on your side... What a great opportunity!!!

Ok, I am going to add my 2 cents (because you asked LOL). What will the cost of daycare cost, will it be that big of a Money diff once you factored in the cost of daycare? I agree with Ronna you don't have to make a choice until you have the other job. I think you have made up your mind to be a PERSONAL TRAINER! You just said it is your passion or "my heart" girl what I would not give to have a job in something I have passion for! Ok, last words of advice, PRAY!!! It always seems to work for me. Much Love, Melissa

Hi Dawn, Just my opinion ... your kids need to see you more than an hour or two a day. They are only small for such a short period of time. Money is not everything and is not as important as the kiddos having their mom. The insurance program you are enrolled in sounds good to me. We have United Healthcare and pay 20 per office visits with a primary care doc and either 10 or 25 for Rx. You have just as good if not better of a deal. You love fitness now. Does your job include use of the facilites? I would go on the interview you have set up as you never know how it will turn out. But if it were up to me I would go with the job that offered me life benefits, not financial benefits. BIG BIG BIG DISCLAIMER ........................... OK- I do not was to **** anyone off - if you are a working mom. I know some people have to work. We made the choice for me to be a SAHM. In order for me to do this we drive old cars, no car payments, carry no personal debt except our house and do not go on luxury vacations, I do not go and get my nails and hair done all the time,I do not get massages (but really wish I could) I do not pay for daycare, tons of drycleaning (when I worked I had my tshirts drycleaned) I cook 90% of our meals at home or do much besides stuff with the family. That being said, this is a lifestyle we chose. Your life is your choice and only you are the best judge of what is best for you. God Bless! Jen

Hey Jen~ We made the same decision as you did, but for a limited time. We weighed out the cost of childcare and the starting salaries of the jobs available in our area. (this was about a year ago) We came to the conclusion that what money I would have left after childcare, lunch, and gas wouldn't be enough to make or break us. We made the decision that we would rather live and have everything we NEED and have me home than live and have everything we WANT and have me work. Yes, that has caused many struggling times. We have come to a point now that my youngest needs to start to interact with other children her age and get out of the house. I feel as though I am depriving her since she is becoming so active but unable to do much in our home. (I am a neat freak so I don't let her fully exhaust herself here.) From a financial standpoint we can (by the skin of our teeth) afford for me to stay home. That is why initially I was only looking for a part time job. I wanted something that would bring in a little spending money and allow both myself and my kids to get out of the house a few hours a week. I'm not sure what prompted me to apply for this FT position...maybe it was the fact that I knew I qualified so perfectly for it. People have said not to worry about it so much since an offer hasn't been made yet. Well, let me tell you all...I have NEVER gone on a job interview and not been offered the position ON THE SPOT. That's why I am trying to figure things out now so I know what to say. Thanks for your insight. Dawn

Oh I forgot....as soon as I get my certs my gym membership is free and yes I can workout while there. Dawn

Don't do something you won't be happy doing, but look at your needs and your future. Being home with your children is important, but so is preparing for your future. By your, I mean the children as well, you know things like college and all the things that come in between now and then. I agree with Ronna. Make the pro and con list on both and be brutally honest. You are really into the physical activity thing right now, but why? Brutally honest about it. Is it an interest that has the strength to carry you through the rest of your life or is it one that will lose it's all consuming impact once you have come to accept and be comfortable with the new you? The office job may not be as exciting as being a personal trainer, at least not in the same way, but it can be something that allows you to grow in the career area of your life. Be brutally honest as you make the decision. Hazel

OK this is coming from a girl who hates her office job-take the gym's offer. If it were me I would still go on the interview just because-that's just me. That schedule you put up there looks horrid. Seriously it is my schedule and I feel like I never see my daughter. It is ultimately up to you but like someone mentioned-it sounds like you have your mind made up already but are scared to choose the one that pays less and makes less sense from a financial/benefit point of view. But it sounds like to me that even though it is not the moneymaker, the gym is where you want to be. Obviously they love you there and see what a great job you can do and have done. Happiness is far more important than the rest. I am sorry this is such a strong opinion but like I said I hate my job and if an opportunity came my way to do something I was actually good at and loved to do-I would so do it. Gook luck girly!

Hi Dawn: This is my first post in a loooong time...but I read this and thought I would throw my two cents in because I think my opinion differs from the majority. I am a business analyst in a major corporation. How I ended up here after getting my B.A. in English and wanting to be a college professor I will never know. Some days I really, really hate my job. Some days I really, really love it. I just put my son in daycare for the first time and it is killing me. It is not that I was a SAHM before this...it is just that my sister watched him and that no longer worked out. I HATE dropping him off at daycare but, you know what? That issue is MINE...not his. He is loving it. Just this week he saw a magic show, was entertained by a musician and visited a petting zoo. Plus he is with kids his age (a good thing for an only child). I understand that everyone makes choices and that none are right or wrong. And for the most part I would tell people to follow their heart. BUT...nothing beats a stable job with benefits. What will happen if you injure youself (God forbid) working as a personal trainer? You will be out of luck altogether. In an office job, that is not something you really need to worry about. Together my husband and I made the decision to buy my childhood home. It is in an expensive town on almost an acre of land. There is NO WAY I cannot work...I do so envy all the SAH Moms out there! But just as some people choose to live well below their means so they can stay home, that is not our decision. Because we have both always worked, we already have a sizable chunk of money in my son's college fund. It is critically important to us that he go to college. We are both "career students." My husband recently received his *second* Masters from the Ivy League Columbia University. Now, I realize that my son may not choose that path, but if he does, we can give him that opportunity. We both spend the day at work with adults (which for me is critical). When we get home, we spend every free moment with our son and dog and live for the weekends with him. And during those times, we get to swim in our pool and take day trips and nice vacations. So, yes, there are always choices. I am sure none of this helps your decision but I wanted to put one out there in the office job camp! It has served me well in the past decade! Hugs, Jersey