My husband and I have always agreed that we would be better off moving closer to my family before starting to have children because, while we are close(ish) to his where we are now, we wouldn't really get the same support network that we would with mine.
However, I had been looking for a job locally to my parents (about 80 miles away) for over a year before lockdown started. I have had a few interviews during lockdown, but the sparse jobs that were available in my skill range were few and far between to begin with and are now even sparser. I've started being less picky and have worked out how much of a salary drop we can manage with, but with things as they are, still not getting any joy. I will need to get a job before we can move for the mortgage but my husband works in IT and can work from home normally even without the lockdown, so he doesn't need to change jobs. I won't be able to commute to my current work if we moved due to the distance, time and expense it would take.
I've been at my current job 6 years next month, so I obviously already have access to enhanced maternity benefits where I am, but I am unhappy there, which is another factor in my wanting a new job.
None of my friends have children as we are all at a very similar point in our lives. I feel I'd need a support network as I've not even had any contact with children or babies for more than the occasional hour or so since I was 16. But COVID-19 has kind of thrown all my plans out of the window and some part of me doesn't want to delay starting a family any longer to retain a bit of control with all the change going on. Equally I'm conflicted because we both want to start things off in the best position we can but I'm aware that we can't wait for everything to be perfect.
So in short, what would you do if you were me?