Hi LMo --

People keep telling me that I've got to accept that aging may be slowing me down -- so it was interesting that this notion turned up for someone 20 years younger than I.

First, it does sound to me as if paring down your responsibilities is in order. I, too, would question the value of an MBA for someone who is self-employed. Aren't non-credit educational opportunities available by joining business organizations and so forth? Adding in the competitive atmosphere of business school and the attitude you've encountered, taking a semester off to consider things sounds reasonable.

Second, if you are planning to have children, a lot of ducks need to be in a row in terms of handling being the financial provider and making time for children. I've seen so many women pulled apart when they had to work and had sick children at home, etc., that I decided not to have children. I have regrets now, but I always knew that this was not a choice without costs. Will your husband be a house-husband? Will his depression interfere with his parenting abilities?

Last, I also have some reservations about coaches. They are not licensed, as therapists are. I considered getting a coach to be my cheerleader in the depths of my depression. I talked it over with a T who suggested that bec. a coach would not have training to deal with clinical depression, a rah-rah goal setting approach could tilt me in the wrong direction. So I hope that you've done your homework in selecting a coach. I also hope that the goal-orientation of coaching isn't increasing your anxiety, instead of alleviating it.

You have achieved so much for someone your age, LMo. Are you Wonderwoman in disguise? (kidding, kidding)

(((((((((((((((((((((((((LMo))))))))))))))))))))