Job Transition While Spawning

I think I've decided to take the new position. My conflict comes not from the decision to take the job itself, but from my ennui. It seems stressful to have to alter work environments with a new little one at home (they'll let me start after my leave and I'll take on some contract work before then). I just kind of want to sit back right now, wait, and enjoy the status quo. Which is what I think makes me have to take the job. Complacency has always been a major weakness of mine - I blossom in high-stress high-performance environments. I'm definitely one of those people who "plays to their competition", or in this case, performs to the demands of my position. The Breadwinner agrees, and we'll find a way to make the commute thing work - whether it's a new school for the kids closer to my office or a nanny at home.

At the end of the day, I want to go back to the lab. What would I do if I had 20 million dollars? Go back to the lab. What would I do if I didn't have kids? Go back to the lab. The only things preventing me from pursuing science are time and money (both of which are in short supply in a scientific career). I think that's the reason this doesn't feel exactly right. Nothing will ever feel right except exchanging my life for science. But I'm giving editing one more shot, and the added responsibilities and higher pressure environment should help.

The key question remaining is when do I tell my current boss. My first inclination is to tell her immediately so they have time to prepare for my absence/find a replacement if they intend to do that (doubtful). I would be willing to do some contract work for a while to help them out. The problem of course is this may backfire in a major way. I have enough sick days/annual leave to get paid through my leave. But what if they decide to terminate me beforehand (and cut out my insurance???) I can't be uninsured while pregnant or with a newborn... I truly like the people I work with and don't want to screw them over, but I can't seem to find a compromise between the two situations. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

Interviewing While Spawning - Offer

I got an offer. Why do I not feel excited? It's clearly beneficial career-wise and not beneficial personally. They want me to start immediately. What do I do? I've tried to get my start date pushed back a bit, but I won't get paid for my time off. Plus, I feel like a traitor to my current position and boss, especially as they've been so good to me even though my job will be changing drastically. Would they be happy to lose the extra salary? Crap. More later.

Interviewing While Spawning - Still Waiting

It's now been 3 weeks, and I feel that my personal situation is distinctly different from what it was 3 weeks ago. I have 6.5 weeks until my due date. Even assuming 1) I get an offer tomorrow (they're calling my references) and 2) I like it and want to accept it, how would the negotiations work out? After I give my 2 week notice, do I then start the new job only 1.5 weeks from my good-to-go date or can I get them to wait to start me until after my leave (like mid-Sept/early Oct). The job is definitely far superior to my current position skills-wise, but I have a number of deal-breaker concerns. 1) The $$ would have to be better to compensate for my commute expenses. 2) My benefits would have to start immediately, can't not have benefits as a pregnant woman. 3) Do I get paid for my leave? Probably not, although I've accrued enough time here... Many things to discuss if I get an offer. What frustrating timing - these things would have been much less of an issue a month ago!

I guess the question is, if they want me, will they be patient and wait for me? And considering (always) the Breadwinner's tenuousness, is it a good idea to commit to something new right now? If my current position weren't going to be seriously altered by the end of the year (for the negative), I'd definitely say 'no'. Plus, I have loyalty to my employers. I wonder if they'd take me as a contract worker for a while until they can find someone else to fill my role...

Interviewing while Spawning - an Update

Had my second round interview on Friday. I think it went well, although not 100% stellar. I had a clear conversation about my whole spawning plans, which I think eased some concerns. I walked out of there wanting the job, and truly feel that the decision on if I get it or not will depend on the quality of the other candidates and not my personal situation. But if I get it, do I want it? There's the rub. The commute is 45 minutes driving (1 hour on the train), which might be tough with the kids. There's more travel. The responsibilities are more to my taste, and I would get to be more of a scientist, but there would also be more work. Should I mess with a good personal situation for an unknown?

Some plusses - a lot of people work remotely, so if the Breadwinner ended up moving next year, I could go with him. Less likely in my current position. The Breadwinner is actually looking at something in the same direction of my commute - maybe we could move closer? Definitely scientifically more challenging and interesting - I miss a higher stress environment. Plus, I'd be able to tell if I actually don't like editing or if its just my current job that rubs me the wrong way.

Minuses - again - time for the kids, distance from home, higher stress position. Plus, there's something about spawning that makes me not want to undergo another major change right now.

Eh, I'm not going to think about this in any detail until I see if I get an offer or not. Wish me luck!