i really , really need to leave my job because it 's making me miserable , but i 'm afraid to make a big change . i 'm worried about financial stability for me and my kids , and nervous about leaving a known quantity for an unknown . i feel for you . my girlfriend is in the same position . luckily we do n't have kids to complicate things , but her job wears her out and it does n't seem like she can physically or mentally keep up with it . kids just make it so that you feel you have to do it until you die , no matter what . yes . and the tricky part is that you can choose to stay in the miserable job for financial/life stability , and then be crabby and unhappy around your kids , or you can take the risk and maybe be in a worse financial place but be happier at home . it 's tough . at least it sounds like you 're giving it a lot of thought . you sound resilient . most people would just quit or get fired , or not even realize the negative impact it 's putting on their children . you seem very self-aware , so i 'm sure you will be able to figure out the best decision for everyone involved . good luck !
Fear of taking risks and facing potential financial instability.