A Mom, A Wife, 52 and don't know what to do?

[puffle]

Doing the happy dance for the new job Monday. Nice people, creativity, casual clothes and a paid lunch hour! Good luck to whomever is still searching for their happy dance.

[Cinnabunz]

Hello all....Newbie here but have really enjoyed reading not only this thread (in particular, will explain in a moment) but this whole forum!

Well as you can probably figure out I am a stay at home mom that due to economic reason is going to have to go back to work.....Also (and quite frankly) I am sick of my hubs making me feel like I am the lesser of the Gods (lol) because I do not monitarily contribute to the bills (although like many of you, me staying at home to be the primary caretaker and avoid day-care etc. for the youngin' was agreed upon before we had the boy )...

So...Finally about 2 months ago, I got up of my butt, enrolled at a community college for classes that are for a TOTALLY DIFFERENT field (i'm going to go into nursing or something else in allied health...something, anything in the health field!) from what I got my degree(s) in (I have an AA and a BA..basically both in some crap that now looking back I can finally admit I wasted my time and money on...) AND I'm looking for part-time work! Im taking distance classes right now and I love it!

Anyway, I dusted off and polished my resume and I've put it out a gazillion times over the past 2-3 months and I am just now getting calls back! I too have been going through a gamut of emotions....Am I too old? (I just turned 40 ), How will my kid survive without me (He's 11 ), Can I work with other people again? Will I catch on in training? Arrrghhhh!!

Here's my dilemma:
Well finally I landed an interview with a shipping company (way too many ppl under the age of 30 for me but what can I do??) and have been offered the position...the pay isnt much (only about 11-12 bucks an hour) but since it's a call center environment, once I get through training, the hours are awesome because I can work just about any 4-5 hour shift I want (which is great so I can still be there for ds) and just about any combo of days I'd like. They want me to start on the 8th.....(training for 4 weeks/40 hours a week and training is only 10/hr! )

BUT

I also have signed up through a placement agency that is recruiting for a HUGE company that is coming to town and have been informed I am in the pool to be called for a second interview (supposed to happen sometime next week) for a position there. I would much rather get this job with the this bigger company (closer to home and would rather get in on the ground floor of a bigger company and establish roots, seniority, etc) but I have no guarantee of a position...YET....

Financially can we survive without my potential paycheck?...For the most part, yes. But in times like now...every little bit can help. My mom (bless her heart) and my hubs think I should just go with the sure thing but my insides keep telling me not to give up on the other.... The other pays a few dollars more per hour and I am more motivated to be in this environment but at the same time I dont want to commit to the other job and then quit (like I have done a few times with other jobs I had before I got married and had a child), especially now that my mind set and focus is different.

I left the shipping company a message saying that I tentatively accept the position...Im kinda wishing I wouldnt have done that...Im so confused and am completely torn on what I should do....Need advice for real!

What say you, wise people?

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by Cinnabunz

What say you, wise people?

I say this:

The situation is that you have a sure bet offer with Company A but you prefer Company B. You have reservations about moving forward with Company A because of a potential offer from Company B. My perspective is that companies let people go all the time because they changed their business model, reorganized, fell short of revenue projections, etc. You have the right to accept a job under the present set of circumstances and then change your mind if those circumstances change. I would start working with Company A but pursue Company B. If and when you get an offer from Company B, say that you need two weeks before your start date. Then give your two weeks notice to Company A. Say that an opportunity has come up that is too good for your career to pass it up and you are so sorry that the timing was so close to your start date. Be very nice and professional about how you leave and they'll probably forget you even existed within a month.

And if for some reason you don't get an offer with Company B, you'll already be working with Company A and you can keep searching for an even better opportunity.