I just want to add a plug for hospital medicine. I recently made the switch from office practice with inpatient peds and delivery attendance to pediatric hospitalist medicine. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Due to staffing issues we are only covering nights right now - will be 24/7 by summer - but it is working great for me. I work two 12 hour shifts per week (and do an additional 12 administrative) I have four kids age 10 down to 1 year, my husband is a full-time FP, and admittedly we hit the babysitter jackpot, but I don't really have extended family support around. The nights can occasionally be rough and it takes me longer to recover now than it did when I was younger (if I am up all night long) but I have so much more time at home now. I am able to make dinner at dinner time (instead of in the morning before work (crockpot) or the night before, or on the weekend before, or rushing to do it when I got home from work - stressful!). I have been able to go to all three of my school-aged kids schools here and there to pitch in. I am semi-caught up with laundry - 4 kids! no such thing as really caught up! I too preferred hospital medicine to the office (all along) so I think that's where some of the relief is coming from. I made the change after 9 years so even if your first choice doesn't work - you can do something else!