Need serious career/family advice.?

I'm too excited about the opportunity to think straight. I've been offered to interview for a Quality Assurance / Regulatory Affairs Compliance Consultant. This is a major promotion with much more money than what I'm being paid now. I鈥檓 a single parent who has dedicated everything to his two small kids 鈥?ages 5 and 7. Here's the problem, it will require up to 20% travel, including international travel - Mexico, Ireland, China, Korea. Should I accept the position if offered in lieu of my two small kids? However, this position will take time away from them, but will provide a substantial increase in income. So there鈥檚 the trade-off. What would you do?Need serious career/family advice.?
20% travel is NOTHING! That's like one day a week. You can RACK up those frequent flier miles and take them somewhere great each summer. Not to mention all those hotel points you can save for free hotel nights.





I am the wife a field service engineer. His being gone hurts our marriage and it's really almost over for us. He's gone 4 out of 5 days and sometimes WEEKS at a time. However his kids have a great bond with him and always appreciate when he's home. But since your single....eat it up.Need serious career/family advice.?
If you can find someone responsible to look after the children. Then yes take the job, You will be able to still spend time with your kids and quality is more important then quality. All the very best
If the pay you receive now isn't bad either, you should stick to it. Your children are young, they need you (mostly since you're all they have, being a single parent). If you can provide them a home, food, clothes etc, don't go on God-knows what countries just for money. Your family is much more important.


Either way, I hope you make the correct choice.
I do not know the situation but will it be better off for your kids. Is it better to have more money for them or spend more time with them. I see the answer but I think you need to see it for yourself. Do not let anyone answer this for you. Just weight each side and see what is best for the kids.
I think I will take it but will not consider it for a long time career . Maybe save up enough money . Or if you already have a job that pays reasonably and lets you save a little for your kids' future then just stay with that job .
I don't envy your position at all, my friend.





In my past experience, I had the same opportunity, and I chose the career. I didn't neglect or ever forget my family, but the portion of missing the personal contact made me realize that I was making a sacficial decision which in the end run would be beneficial to all of us.





Now-a-days, there are several means which would be very helpful for you to have both. How you ask? Simple - try the following, it may ease on the pain of missing your family.





* One, get a good 'long-distance' plan which will allow for daily calling and at a 'not-so-expensive' cost - at least a phone will help to alleviate absence of your voice.





** Two, install a 'webcam' which gives a little more personal contact again at a not-so-expensive cost.





*** Third, arrange for a weekly/bi-weekly visit - this may be a hard one to fulfill, however, if you're raking in the dough, well - what's it worth to you? Again, in my experience, I chose to return home for each of their birthdays - it made their celebration that much brighter and trust me, the smile on their face will be worth the expense of the trip home.





**** AND Fourth, arrange for the children to be busy with relatives. It will take their minds off of your absence.





Granted, nothing is more precious than watching your children grow up. It's a sacrifice, yes, but ask yourself this one question - Can my children endure my absence given I'm providing them with a better future? I'm certain you will all agree, you owe this one to yourself. In the long-run, your career will change in time, hence you will be home - you will be thankful you made this conscious decision for your family, not just yourself.





Good luck in your decision.
Calgayguy; you dont know the situation? then read the question again. O.k I would agree with deville. Go for it, 2 yrs max. save up and get back to local and spend time with children. If you dont' go you'll blame them, If you do go kids don't have a mother and now no father? but 1, 2 yrs max is o.k. do it. get the experience and doors will open.. Have your cake and eat it to is my motto. Follow me.
what are your priorities? you're children are too young for you to be away that many times. they need a solid parent to be there for them. i'd say keep looking. or maybe there's another position in the company that can still pay you more than your position now and still be home for your kids.
money ain't everything, they grow up so fast, if you can make it off what you do now,not being away from them ,do that