My husband works for my dad and has for the last 3 years-- he does not have a college degree and so this has always seemed good for the time being because it pays decent. He gets frustrated at times due to the family connections and tension arises around our own home when this occurs. Bottom line is that he would like to start looking for a different job this summer. He would like to do something in the transportation industry (airlines, trains, etc) or groundskeeping and is open to many different things. However, it seems likely that there will be a pay cut if and when he leaves my dad's company. My dad has been very generous with bonuses and raises through the years and it would be nearly impossible to match that if he were to look elsewhere. We would do fine if there was a decrease in wages (to a certain extent) but part of me is scared of such a transition. Like any other job would be "risky" or "insecure". BUT I don't want my husband to feel stuck working for my dad forever either and I don't want my insecurities to come across to him and make him feel like no other job he'll do will be as good or as secure.

I think it's one of those things that I will worry about it until it actually happens and then things will probably work out ok. I also worry a lot about what my parents think- and I feel like they will think it is a bad idea for him to leave the company for a lower paying job even if it would make my husband (and in turn, me!) happier.

I have an advanced college degree and am the "breadwinner" and I think that my family wishes he were more career-driven and I was less. But I love my job, love to work, and neither of us believes money is the key to success or happiness and live very simply. I guess what I am trying to say is that they think more traditionally (women should work part-time if at all and the man should "support" his family) and we have something pretty much the opposite of that. We don't have kids yet but I worry about their judgement on all of this and more for when we do. In fact, feeling that there will be judgement such as this (i.e. "your going to send your kids to daycare!?" or "your husband is going to stay home part-time?!") is one of the things that sort of makes me hesistant to start a family..

Anyways, sorry to rant- I guess once I started writing about the job-thing, more underlying fears came out- but they are all somewhat related and any advice or kind works would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!