Just got offered a promotion but it requires 60% travel

Dec 16·1 min read

Title change, $40k bump, corner office... everything I thought I wanted 3 years ago. But now my kids are 6 and 4 and I'd miss SO MUCH. My wife wants me to take it (the money would help), but I keep thinking about my oldest's baseball season starting next month. Has anyone turned down a big opportunity like this? Do you regret it? I have until Friday to decide and I'm losing sleep over it.

5 comments362 views

Comments(5)

WWalter T.RegularDec 17

$40k sounds great until you're the dad who misses the school plays and the after-school hangouts and the random Tuesday where your kid wants to show you something. You asked for this job for a reason three years ago - what's changed?

TTyler K.RegularDec 19

The fact that you're hesitating means you already know the answer. If this was a no-brainer, you wouldn't be posting about it. Trust your gut on this one.

NNeil C.New DadDec 17

That $40k would help for like a year and then you'll look back and realize you missed your kids growing from 6 and 4 to 8 and 6. You can't get those years back. The corner office will still be there in 5 years if you want it.

DDante J.New DadDec 19

Your wife saying "take it, the money would help" might actually mean "I'm overwhelmed and money would ease some of that stress" not "I want you gone 60% of the time." Have that specific conversation. Maybe there's a middle ground.

DDale A.RegularDec 19

I turned down basically this exact offer when my kids were 5 and 3. Took a lateral move instead. Zero regrets. By the time they're teenagers you'll have money you didn't need but you WON'T have those early years back.