Daycare vs. IT career

Rockets34Life

Hello everyone,

Currently between a rock and a rock. I'm on contract working as desktop support/sys admin and coming near the end of my contract. There is a good chance they will either extend me or offer me a full-time role. I was going to accept whatever they give me while I look for another gig.

Well, last Monday, things just went upside down, but in an awesome way! My beautiful daughter was born. My wife has started maternity leave and it will end in the beginning of May.

The dilemma I have is putting a 3 month old baby in the hands of an in-home/external daycare with other kids who might be or will get sick or if they neglect her. My wife thinks it's ok and I was onboard with it, but now I'm getting second thoughts about it. My parents live in Houston and my in-laws live in Florida. Already talked to them and they told us they are not going to move to where we're at.

So I'm thinking of putting my 10 year experience of IT on hold and work nights doing non-IT (IT job working nights are scarce - help desk (going backwards, but might do it) and NOC (only 12 hour shifts and who will watch the baby during the day?))

Stay-at-home dad? My wife doesn't make enough to cover me and the baby.

Is there another option other than doing a non-IT job or just being a stay-at-home dad?

Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

TIA.

Claymoore

Comparisons to college tuition also vary from state to state, but almost everywhere the ratio is startling. In 40 states the average annual cost for an infant in center-based care was higher than a year’s tuition and fees at a four-year public college. In Massachusetts, the yearly infant care cost exceeded the yearly cost of tuition and fees by $9,533; in New York, Wyoming and Washington, D.C., the infant-care costs were more than double the college costs.

Parents and The High Cost of Child Care: 2010 Update | NACCRRA - The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies

My wife lost her job 2 years ago and, since we live in an area with higher than average unemployment, was unable to find a job in a year. We then decided that it made logistical sense (not necessarily financial sense) to start a family. We wanted to start one soon - I'm not getting any younger - and it would be hard for her to try and and start a career only to have to go on maternity leave. It also gave her the opportunity to focus on a healthy pregnancy and our first son was born 3 months ago. We plan for her to stay home at least his first year and then evaluate child care costs, job prospects, and the thought of having another child. I am against paying for my wife's MBA student loans while she pursues a career as a housewife, but it doesn't make sense to take a job only to have the entire salary eaten by day care costs.