- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
OT dads with small kids and a job that travels, how do you like it?
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:13 am
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:13 am
Been at my job 10 years and love it, but its sales and our product is in less demand so I'm making less and less money. I made 10k less in 21 than i did in 20. I work from home and travel locally during the day.
I have a wife that works full time 7-4 and two kids 10 and 12 that i get to take and pick up from school daily.
Another department in my company tapped me on the shoulder Monday to gauge my interest in a national sales job. It would be approx. 20-25k raise per year but it says 50% travel. Basically every other week id be out 2-3 nights a week.
Im torn on what to do. It sounds like a great opportunity but i hate to give up a great job, albeit less money, to be traveling all the time.
Curious how people on the OT juggle that and if they enjoy it or wish they stayed home more?
I have a wife that works full time 7-4 and two kids 10 and 12 that i get to take and pick up from school daily.
Another department in my company tapped me on the shoulder Monday to gauge my interest in a national sales job. It would be approx. 20-25k raise per year but it says 50% travel. Basically every other week id be out 2-3 nights a week.
Im torn on what to do. It sounds like a great opportunity but i hate to give up a great job, albeit less money, to be traveling all the time.
Curious how people on the OT juggle that and if they enjoy it or wish they stayed home more?
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:14 am to dallastiger55
You will never get that time back with your kids.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:15 am to dallastiger55
it's hard with small kids, both as a parent who traveled and as a kid whose dad was never home.
grass isn't always greener. unless you really need the money, i'd say no. you cant get those years back.
grass isn't always greener. unless you really need the money, i'd say no. you cant get those years back.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:16 am to dallastiger55
You've got 4 years until your oldest starts driving. You'll never get that $100k back either.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:16 am to dallastiger55
Every on-the-road sales guy I know has been divorced.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:16 am to dallastiger55
I can't speak from my own job experience, but my dad traveled about the same when I was little. He was involved as much as he could, and there may have been times when I wasn't a big fan of it. But I can tell you that now I understand why my dad had to do it, and even in my teenage years, I was beyond appreciative of what he did.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:16 am to dallastiger55
Got a 9 month old and a 25% travel job. I try to travel less when possible, but I’ve missed some milestones and it’s crushing.
Still love my job.
Still love my job.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:17 am to BottomlandBrew
quote:
Every on-the-road sales guy I know has been divorced.
That's just not true. The odds on a 100% success rate on that are just low.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:17 am to BottomlandBrew
(no message)
This post was edited on 4/11/23 at 4:54 am
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:18 am to dallastiger55
I was overseas one time and on the phone w my wife while my son had a 102 fever and it was miserable. Glad I don't travel like that anymore.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:18 am to dallastiger55
Take it, crush it and in 5 years you will be Director of national sales. You'll work 35 hour weeks, have to travel every 2 months, and make some real juice.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:19 am to BottomlandBrew
Rework the numbers without your wife working; that’s what most families do if one parent is on the road so much to keep things going. Also, consider they might be a little rosey right now on travel amount either due to Covid or to get someone on seat.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:20 am to dallastiger55
quote:
Basically every other week id be out 2-3 nights a week.
Your wife’s boyfriend will love this.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:20 am to dallastiger55
You can’t get the time back, or the memories.
My dad was always working growing up, often out of town on turnarounds.
When my kids were very young, i was doing the same kind of thing, chasing paper. After a spell, I stopped the shift work and got a job that had me home every night. Definitely a cut in pay, but looking back now it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
Now, I’ve got memories. Snuggles. Joy.
I’m there to give them their lullabies at night, and cuddles in the morning. We laugh and play and be silly.
You can’t put a price on that.
Leave the traveling to the single baws. Daddies should be home with their babies
My dad was always working growing up, often out of town on turnarounds.
When my kids were very young, i was doing the same kind of thing, chasing paper. After a spell, I stopped the shift work and got a job that had me home every night. Definitely a cut in pay, but looking back now it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
Now, I’ve got memories. Snuggles. Joy.
I’m there to give them their lullabies at night, and cuddles in the morning. We laugh and play and be silly.
You can’t put a price on that.
Leave the traveling to the single baws. Daddies should be home with their babies
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:21 am to dallastiger55
I've been a OTR sales rep (150+ nights/year) for the last 20 years. I have a 10 year old son at home.
I'm walking away at the end of next week. Missed too many things at home and I'm not comfortable with it anymore. So I'm going through the process to become a substitute teacher while I look for a sales job with a local territory or a project management type position.
The ONLY saving grace from all my travel is that I haven't paid for a place to stay on a vacation in at least 12 years.
I'm walking away at the end of next week. Missed too many things at home and I'm not comfortable with it anymore. So I'm going through the process to become a substitute teacher while I look for a sales job with a local territory or a project management type position.
The ONLY saving grace from all my travel is that I haven't paid for a place to stay on a vacation in at least 12 years.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:23 am to dallastiger55
In pictures
I've got her photograph on a stand by my bed
Two on the mantle and thousands in my head
I can't believe how fast she's growing
It ain't supposed to be like this
Everytime I look at her, I see how much I missed.
I missed her first steps
Her first words
And “I love you daddy” is something I seldom heard.
Oh it hurts me so…
To watch my girl grow…
Up in Pictures
I sent the money down
Do my best to do my part
But it can't compare to what I paid with my heart
There's still one answered question
That weighs heavy on my mind
Will she ever understand, the reasons why?
I missed her first steps
Her first words
And I love you daddy something I seldom heard
Oh it hurts me so, to watch my girl grow
Up in pictures
Takes all I have to keep the tears inside.
And What I wouldn't give if I could turn back time.
I missed her first steps
Her first words
And “ I love you daddy” is something I seldom heard
Oh it hurts me so, to watch my baby grow
Up in pictures
I've got her photograph on a stand by my bed
Two on the mantle and thousands in my head
I can't believe how fast she's growing
It ain't supposed to be like this
Everytime I look at her, I see how much I missed.
I missed her first steps
Her first words
And “I love you daddy” is something I seldom heard.
Oh it hurts me so…
To watch my girl grow…
Up in Pictures
I sent the money down
Do my best to do my part
But it can't compare to what I paid with my heart
There's still one answered question
That weighs heavy on my mind
Will she ever understand, the reasons why?
I missed her first steps
Her first words
And I love you daddy something I seldom heard
Oh it hurts me so, to watch my girl grow
Up in pictures
Takes all I have to keep the tears inside.
And What I wouldn't give if I could turn back time.
I missed her first steps
Her first words
And “ I love you daddy” is something I seldom heard
Oh it hurts me so, to watch my baby grow
Up in pictures
This post was edited on 2/9/22 at 7:29 am
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:28 am to dallastiger55
quote:
Basically every other week id be out 2-3 nights a week.
I don't have kids but if 11-12 days out of 14 are home, that doesn't sound bad at all. Maybe I'm ignorant.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:29 am to fr33manator
quote:
You can’t get the time back, or the memories.
Do you make a lot of memories with 10-12 year old children on weeknights? Most people’s weeknights are filled with running around to practices, kids doing homework, bathing and sleep.
Four weeknights away per a month for a job making $20k v. staying in a job that is a dinosaur and will continue to dry up losing as much as $10k? Money is not everything, but you can make a a lot of memories on weeknights you are home and weekends with that extra $20-$25k. That’s two or three extra trips a year.
You can also bring the kids with you on trips once they are a bit older (old enough stay in hotel room by themselves for a few hours while you are pitching) and let them see some of the country.
It’s not ideal, but there are upsides to it. Personal choice, but I know I would take it for the longevity of job security more than anything.
This post was edited on 2/9/22 at 7:30 am
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:35 am to dallastiger55
Cat's in the Cradle
This was a cautionary tale for me.
quote:
I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, I'd like to see you if you don't mind
He said, I'd love to, dad, if I can find the time
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad
It's been sure nice talking to you
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when"
But we'll get together then, dad
We're gonna have a good time then
This was a cautionary tale for me.
Posted on 2/9/22 at 7:36 am to go ta hell ole miss
I suppose that situation isn’t so bad. I’m thinking about a job where you are gone much of the time.
And it’s easier when they are older. It’s those baby to teen years that are so important.
I’m just being nostalgic. I know how much my dad sacrificed for us, and I understand it now as a father. I just know If I had gone down the same path I would have missed so much that I’m just now realizing is worth.
Being able to tuck my kids in at night and give them lullabies and cuddles…well, when that time is over, it’s worth more than overtime.
And it’s easier when they are older. It’s those baby to teen years that are so important.
I’m just being nostalgic. I know how much my dad sacrificed for us, and I understand it now as a father. I just know If I had gone down the same path I would have missed so much that I’m just now realizing is worth.
Being able to tuck my kids in at night and give them lullabies and cuddles…well, when that time is over, it’s worth more than overtime.
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News