academic mamas - what is the ettiquite for quitting for post-docs?

[COgirl19]

I just had my second child in August. I was planning on continuing working, even though I stayed at home with my first for 2 years. This second pregnancy was unplanned (though we were thrilled!). I have been at this post-doc for a year and a half and returned to work post-partum in September. Frankly, it's not going well.

My heart is simply at home with my kiddos. DH tries so hard but he really isn't cut out for this SAHD thing! I am having trouble balancing work and family and I simply just don't really care for my career right now, I am discovering academia just isn't for me. I have gotten no results in my project in a year of research! I doubt my advisor will even miss it that much when I am not in the lab anyway.

The catch is that DH is unemployed. I can't quit until he finds work. It could be next week, it could be months from now. So can someone tell me, what is the ettiquite for quitting a post-doc in this situation? Do I tell my advisor now that I plan on quitting when DH finds work or wait until DH actually finds a job? How much notice is appropriate? A month? 2 months? 2 weeks?

[marinak1977]

I just quit my postdoc after going into industry. I stayed through part time until my paper was written and submitted (I have to resubmit, but that's a different story) then gave 2 weeks notice.

I did not tell my advisor while I was looking for a job that I didn't want to stay in academia, I felt that as long as I wasn't shortchanging the lab because I was not going to stay it wasn't his business what my long term plans were.

as long as you're not going to screw the lab over by leaving suddenly I don't see the harm in keeping your plans to yourself for now. it depends on your relationship with your advisor though.