And yet more debating...

I seem to be coming around to the teaching position (perhaps precipitated by the not-so encouraging news on the commercial publication sell-out front from my Journal). It could be bad if I turned down the position and then lost my current job in April. Of course, we could always save money by pulling the Spawn out of school for a while, but I am not meant to be a stay-at-home Mom. Greater than 3 days at home with my admittedly incredibly charming and engaging child makes me want to scream and pull out all my hair. Patience is a virtue I lack.

The Breadwinner correctly points out that this was the first job that I interviewed for, and I got it. Of course, that's not counting the numerous CVs I sent out unanswered, but I do have a 100% offer rate if I interview for a job. Do I need to be so desperate as to take a not ideal job at a not ideal University when I'm probably very marketable (although becoming less so every day)?

My main concern about "letting it go" is the timing of the academic job cycle. It's not like I could turn it down and apply for other positions starting in Fall '10 - I'd have to wait for Fall '11 (and who knows where we'll be then). But then the academic job cycle is my main concern for accepting the teaching position (that and that whole amorphous "doesn't feel right, but maybe get me in a better place someday" feeling that pervades my entire thought process about this. Here're the numbers, and I don't know how to work around them. Spawn 2 is due in early August. Classes start early September (with necessary class and lab preparation throughout August). When planning this before, I didn't take into account the necessary pre-start, on campus lab setup time (just the lecture prep time, which I can do earlier). If S2 is 3 weeks early (technically possible b/c of 2nd pregnancy), I'd be totally fine. If, however, s/he follows the example set by S1 and is 2 weeks late, that'd have me start lecturing on campus with a 2 week old. Beyond not ideal, plus we wouldn't be able to put S2 in daycare at that point.

Maybe it's just too much change in a very short time period. I don't know. I'm struggling to think of someone that I can ask for advice on this one, but I don't know anyone who's been in a similar situation. Have to decide soon.