The Moving Blues

I am scared to death. I was offered a great-paying job doing the same thing I am doing now—but it is seven hours away. That's one heck of a move with four kids, ages 13, 5, 3 and newborn. The last time we were about to move, my wife and I quit our jobs. Then I bailed at the last minute and decided that I didn't want to move. We both had to beg for our jobs back. I got mine, but my wife did not.

Now we are at the point where I have to take the new job, because the income we are currently making cannot cover the bills. I had really hoped to do something different. I was ready for a career change. It's been wearing on me a lot. It's gotten so bad, I even went to my doctor because of heart pain and he said it's because of stress. I know that this is all jumbled up, but there is so much that I cannot put into words.

My wife put in her notice today, but she would have to stay here until the kids get out of school in May. That means I would have to move to our new home by myself. That's going to be so hard. I love my kids and my wife, and I can't stand the thought of one night without them, let alone many months. If we stay here, we will never make more than we're making now, and that is terrible. I am ready for a career change, but I wish it wasn't going to affect everyone so much. I am so scared for my kids going from a small school to a very large school. But I have to make a decision and I really don't know what to do.