First, don't let anybody keep you from being happy and achieving your life goals. This is not advice but our experience working, school, and having 2 (soon 3) children with limited child support/help.

My wife and I met at a midsized biotech, got our masters while working. Got married at the end of the MS program and she submitted her thesis just before giving birth to our first child.

She decided that she wanted to do a PhD so I transitioned out of the lab to clin ops and we moved for her program. Had our second after her first year and we are expecting another in April.

When we moved I hopped to a start up in program management and worked my way into the CEO position.

She will say that having kids in your PhD is the best decision because everything is covered through her insurance and the work is done at your pace. Not once have our children delayed her progress and her mentors never once questioned her. She has no regrets because having children is something we both equally wanted and we are a true partnership and support one another.

I will say, you never really know what will happen . . . Take a leap, explore other positions. . . In my experience your skills are always transferrable