The Job

I have been working on ways to bring in money so I can stay home with my kids. I have many ideas, but very little time to see them to fruition. I also don't have the money to invest in ideas that require...well any money. Is it possible to replace my income from my 8-5 with at home work? Here is what I have discovered so far: NO It is not that it can't be replaced. But what I am wanting is time. If I work from home the time is simply swallowed up by another form of work. I don't really want to work from home. I don't want to sit at home and try to juggle the kids and find time to get my "work" tasks done. I want money to be coming in, but not from a menial task of one sort or another. What do I want? Do I want a more enjoyable 8-5? Would I do better part time? Part time still requires childcare unless I work at a time when their dad doesn't work. None of these things can be done while we live in a place that is beyond our means. What really needs to happen is a relocation of our family. Either with part time or if I must; full time work. Relocating means many changes. We haven't done it yet..I haven't done it yet, because I don't want to be the source of angst when things are tough. When my son has no friends at school, and my little one misses his Martha. All of the explaining in the world will not make it feel better. I worry that the move is not for the right reasons, or that it is selfish on my part. Will the kids feel the benefit of us moving? will they feel better than they do now? Is moving really the only answer? Granted I don't think my kids are unhappy, but they could definitely go in either direction on the happy scale. I think a big part is I just don't love my job anymore. It started out as a job I loved and slowly turned into a job that I don't want to continue in. I had hoped that the pay increase would help our living expenses, but it is barely noticeable after taxes. I am disappointed that it did not do more for us.I had hoped it would allow us to move into a bigger place, or allow us to go on more trips, but instead it is covering the newest rent increase and the higher food costs. It is such a deflating feeling when your efforts are blocked by unseen forces. It will be sad to leave our home. I vowed never to move my son again after I settled here. I wanted him to have roots and a sense of belonging. I didn't want his future self to say " I grew up in a bunch of places". The idea in and of itself is somewhat overwhelming. Again I don't want to be the decision maker. The jobs I apply to determine where we move to. There are job opportunities everywhere, but that doesn't mean they are all great places to be.  I will gather my thoughts and reflect on our next move.