Downgrading fro family

UPSwife · 07-22-2008, 09:19 AM

Well, I didn't really know how else to title this or even where to post it. Basically, two years ago DH to CA on the 757 at UPS. During that time, we bought our dream home (fortunately we financed on 15 years), I changed jobs to a job I love, and we are now expecting our first child. Also during the past two years, Steve's schedules have been the worst imaginable due to his low seniority as a captain. He has also just completed captain training on the A300 in order to keep a captain seat in Louisville. Well, with the newest displacement, his number was up. We talked long and hard about things and decided that although he could keep a captain seat if he changed domiciles to MIA, ONT, or ANC, the commute would not be worth it for us at this time. Instead, DH is downgrading to FO on the 757. Since he just completed CA training on the plane two years ago, we are hoping the training will be a shortened version, but we can't seem to get a straight answer on that. I think financially we have made some wise moves over the past two years, so it will be okay in that regard. In regard to our new family, though, I think it will be priceless for Steve to be able to bid as a senior FO again instead of getting the bottom of the bucket as a junior CA. I guess we'll see how it all works out, but I remember his last days as FO we could pretty much choose his schedules based on days we needed off and we always got first pick on vacations (instead of ending up with a week in February, a week in April, and a week in September. Last year he spent Christmas in Japan while our families celebrated the holidays. I think he'd like to try to be home for Molly's first Christmas.

UPSwife · 07-22-2008, 09:22 AM

Sorry about the typo in the thread title! I don't know how to fix it!

CLErocks · 07-22-2008, 10:38 AM

Good luck to you guys! I agree that you have to to what's best for your family. Your ok financially, you can stay in your home, and daddy can be around for all the firsts. Why not make the decision you made?!

madlibs · 07-22-2008, 10:58 AM

Aww Felicia, I'm sorry you guys are going through this. Such a sickening time with the industry. Stating the obvious, but it's really good you guys were so wise and forward-thinking financially. My DH and I are/ and have been trying to do the same thing. I feel like I don't even know where we'll be 6 months from now, and it's very unsettling. I, too, think it's important and WONDERFUL that he'll be able to be there for your little munchkin's first Christmas. QOL is so important with this lifestyle, and it sounds like things will be great (schedule-wise) with a return to the right seat.
Hey, and on a sidenote, we're down in SDF a lot! Maybe we can get together one of these times.

Imachickadee75 · 07-22-2008, 02:00 PM

Just a thought, especially when your kiddos are little, the only holiday you can't reschedule is Halloween. Your kids don't know what day is REALLY christmas or even their birthday. We've had good luck celebrating holidays on other days so far. But, most communities only trick-or-treat one night a year. Poor DH has missed all of Jason's

.

Anyway, I think your decision is a wise one. Good for you guys!

Jackie

scottslove06 · 07-22-2008, 03:11 PM

I think you made the right decision... It's so tricky to try and figure out what's best when you don't even know what cards you are going to be dealt, but it seems like you're as prepared as possible. The time he can spend with you and your baby will be priceless, and you can never get it back, so hell yeah, do whatever it takes!!

amelia · 07-22-2008, 08:37 PM

Good luck to you guys! I know DH would do the same. You all will only be happier in the end.

roz · 07-22-2008, 09:04 PM

Felicia, only the two of you know what is best for you. You have made a choice that seems right and will work to make it right. That's all that matters. Everyone has their own reasons for doing things. As long as they are one with it, it all works out.

Bigsweetie · 07-22-2008, 09:36 PM

I think you're doing the right thing too (not that my opinion counts).

As for celebrating holidays on the day, I agree with pp's though. I actually like celebrating it on a different day because we can plan the day for however we want. On the actually holiday we have to shuffle kids to 2 or 3 different parties and there's hussle and bustle and craziness. When we celebrate the holiday with daddy home, we sleep in, we make a nice breakfast, we take our time opening presents, and Emily can just play all day with her new toys instead of having to pack up and get drug all over town.

I'm rambling... the real reason for my post - I see you're naming your little girl Molly!!! I have a Molly too! What's her middle name going to be?? Our daughter's middle name is Lynn.

UPSwife · 07-23-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madlibs

Hey, and on a sidenote, we're down in SDF a lot! Maybe we can get together one of these times.

We definitely should! Where are you located/why do you visit SDF often?

07-22-2008, 09:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
UPSwife Jetgirls Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 315 Recipes: Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Downgrading fro family Well, I didn't really know how else to title this or even where to post it. Basically, two years ago DH to CA on the 757 at UPS. During that time, we bought our dream home (fortunately we financed on 15 years), I changed jobs to a job I love, and we are now expecting our first child. Also during the past two years, Steve's schedules have been the worst imaginable due to his low seniority as a captain. He has also just completed captain training on the A300 in order to keep a captain seat in Louisville. Well, with the newest displacement, his number was up. We talked long and hard about things and decided that although he could keep a captain seat if he changed domiciles to MIA, ONT, or ANC, the commute would not be worth it for us at this time. Instead, DH is downgrading to FO on the 757. Since he just completed CA training on the plane two years ago, we are hoping the training will be a shortened version, but we can't seem to get a straight answer on that. I think financially we have made some wise moves over the past two years, so it will be okay in that regard. In regard to our new family, though, I think it will be priceless for Steve to be able to bid as a senior FO again instead of getting the bottom of the bucket as a junior CA. I guess we'll see how it all works out, but I remember his last days as FO we could pretty much choose his schedules based on days we needed off and we always got first pick on vacations (instead of ending up with a week in February, a week in April, and a week in September. Last year he spent Christmas in Japan while our families celebrated the holidays. I think he'd like to try to be home for Molly's first Christmas. __________________

07-22-2008, 09:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
UPSwife Jetgirls Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 315 Recipes: Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Downgrading for family Sorry about the typo in the thread title! I don't know how to fix it! __________________

07-22-2008, 10:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
CLErocks Jetgirls Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 290 Recipes: Thanks: 9 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Downgrading for family Good luck to you guys! I agree that you have to to what's best for your family. Your ok financially, you can stay in your home, and daddy can be around for all the firsts. Why not make the decision you made?! __________________ Rachel

07-22-2008, 10:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
madlibs Jetgirls Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US Posts: 424 Recipes: Thanks: 9 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Downgrading fro family Aww Felicia, I'm sorry you guys are going through this. Such a sickening time with the industry. Stating the obvious, but it's really good you guys were so wise and forward-thinking financially. My DH and I are/ and have been trying to do the same thing. I feel like I don't even know where we'll be 6 months from now, and it's very unsettling. I, too, think it's important and WONDERFUL that he'll be able to be there for your little munchkin's first Christmas. QOL is so important with this lifestyle, and it sounds like things will be great (schedule-wise) with a return to the right seat. Hey, and on a sidenote, we're down in SDF a lot! Maybe we can get together one of these times.

07-22-2008, 02:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
Imachickadee75 Jetgirls Ol' School Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: oklahoma Posts: 645 Recipes: Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Downgrading fro family Just a thought, especially when your kiddos are little, the only holiday you can't reschedule is Halloween. Your kids don't know what day is REALLY christmas or even their birthday. We've had good luck celebrating holidays on other days so far. But, most communities only trick-or-treat one night a year. Poor DH has missed all of Jason's . Anyway, I think your decision is a wise one. Good for you guys! Jackie __________________ Welcoming baby #3 this spring!

07-22-2008, 03:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
scottslove06 Jetgirls Plus Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia soon to be Phoenix Posts: 29 Recipes: Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Downgrading fro family I think you made the right decision... It's so tricky to try and figure out what's best when you don't even know what cards you are going to be dealt, but it seems like you're as prepared as possible. The time he can spend with you and your baby will be priceless, and you can never get it back, so hell yeah, do whatever it takes!! __________________ ~Taniya~ Wife Extraordinaire of Scott, CA at Mesa on CRJ 200/900 based in PHX

07-22-2008, 08:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
amelia Jetgirls Plus Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 624 Recipes: Thanks: 3 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Downgrading fro family Good luck to you guys! I know DH would do the same. You all will only be happier in the end. __________________ Mom to 2 wonderful kids.

07-22-2008, 09:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
roz Jetgirls Ol' School Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Philly Posts: 2,252 Recipes: Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Downgrading fro family Felicia, only the two of you know what is best for you. You have made a choice that seems right and will work to make it right. That's all that matters. Everyone has their own reasons for doing things. As long as they are one with it, it all works out.

07-22-2008, 09:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bigsweetie Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Clinton Township, Michigan Posts: 1,561 Recipes: Thanks: 8 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Downgrading fro family I think you're doing the right thing too (not that my opinion counts). As for celebrating holidays on the day, I agree with pp's though. I actually like celebrating it on a different day because we can plan the day for however we want. On the actually holiday we have to shuffle kids to 2 or 3 different parties and there's hussle and bustle and craziness. When we celebrate the holiday with daddy home, we sleep in, we make a nice breakfast, we take our time opening presents, and Emily can just play all day with her new toys instead of having to pack up and get drug all over town. I'm rambling... the real reason for my post - I see you're naming your little girl Molly!!! I have a Molly too! What's her middle name going to be?? Our daughter's middle name is Lynn.

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