<prompt> Human: I currently work full-time, fully vested, with 37,000 in my 401k. My husband has over 100,000 in his IRA. I am the breadwinner, and we cannot afford to live off of my husbands income, even though he does work full-time.We have a mortgage of approx. 1200month. We both own our cars, and have paid off past student loans. We dont have credit card debt, although we do use a couple regularly and pay it off immediately at the end of the month. Im almost 36, and he is almost 34. We have one toddler. Right now, my mum is between jobs, and has been able to live with us during the week, to watch our daughter. We pay her 800month, plus room and board. She is planning on going back to work in the next few months. This is another reason we are seriously looking at big changes.Our mortgage is low enough to be comparable to renting a two-bdrm in our Seattle area location. We both have our BAs, earned a long time ago. I want to go to nursing school, and that requires I take a lot of pre-reqs, and then likely, a one year accelerated baccalaureate program in order to qualify for the test to get licensed. I have taken all of the online pre-req courses I can. Evening classes start too early for me to attend, and that is why Im finally looking at quitting and being a full-time student Ive looked at schedule for 5 local community colleges and just cant find classes that my work schedule allows. Once I get the pre-reqs completed, I will apply for scholarship nursing programs if need be. With pre-reqs, im sort of in a weird place. We want to get me into school, so that I can eventually earn more for our family, follow my dream, and be a better role model for our daughter. My husband is not sure what hed like to do for a career, so he wants me to go first. Ideally, I will be able to help finance his masters, etc., if he chooses to go back to school, once Im able to provide more financial stability for the fam. We are willing to cash out our retirement savings. We know about the 30 penalties. We have other concerns about what steps to take first, to minimize taxes and qualify for student loans:We want to keep our house, bc it is equal to rentals in the area. Eventually well sell it, probably when Ive completed school and looking to relocate for a job. For now, it just seems logical to stay in our home.The Seattle area has atrocious childcare rates. My plan is to go to school full-time, and watch our daughter whenever possible. I want to look into community college-related child care programs. Another option is to hire somebody to watch her part-time. Essentially, we are anticipating child care to be a sizeable expense.My husband will switch us to his health insurance, bc that is a necessity.We plan on really scaling down. Selling furniture we dont need. Clothes, toys, exercise equipment, no regular treats like eating out, or netflix. We are truly prepared to do what we know is sensible.I want to be eligible for any financial assistance possible, including student loans. Should I roll over my 401k into an IRA, and then withdraw from it after Ive exhausted student loans? I want to start full-time for the fall. Isnt FAFSA usually due Feb 1st? Does that mean I wont likely get any funding if I apply now?Should my husband withdraw from his IRA slowly, to avoid being put into a higher tax bracket?My husband only makes 14hr. How can we do this, so that we are able to pay our mortgage, cover my classes, afford food and other necessities, and survive?Does anybody have experience with a situation like this, or have expertise? And, who should we talk to for advice? Tax attorney, financial planner of some sort?Thanks!Edited for clarification and to add additional pertinent info.More info, to respond to questionssuggestions below:I do know that nursing school is a challenge; I have no romantic notion of it, at all. I have been ready for the challenge for some time now. Ive read books about nurse experiences good and bad, and work with nurses at a hospital. Im not the kind of person to take such a substantial risk, affecting my husband and child, without serious consideration, research, and discussion. I am committed to being a nurse. The program Id like to attend is rather competitive, but given my work experience, volunteer work, and dedication to my schoolwork, I think ive got a good shot. I also plan on applying to one or two other similar nursing programs, less competitive, in California. I am confident Im going to succeed one of these ways.Ive worked at this job for over 8 years. Ive been unhappy in it for several years, but wanted to take the time to be confident in a career direction. The job is dead-end. It has no room for growth, despite creative attempts on my part to increase job responsibilities. Ive become depressed over it, gained weight, and sometimes angry at how monotonous it can be. This hasnt been a recent realization for me. Ive waited long enough, and a few more years isnt do-able at this point. Its depleting me bc I am so unhappy. This sounds dramatic, but remember this has been an exponentially increasing feeling for several years. I feel stymied, and complacent. I feel underchallenged and frustrated.I cannot work this job and take these harder science classes and get the grades I need. My schedule is to leave my house at 630am each morning, and return at 630pm. This includes 3 hours of traffic. By the time I get home, Im tired, cranky, and already dreading the next day. I walk in the door, and eat and feed my daughter, bathe her, read to her, do laundry or other chores, get ready for work, and finally get her to bed by 830pm. My husband works in Seattle and makes a similar commute, somewhat less exhausting bc he is able to make public transportation work for him. He works full-time and gets home at approx. 10pm. He works Sunday through Thursday. I would have 830-bedtime to do my schoolwork. Sounds great, but by then, im mentallyphysically crap. Ive done this with my online courses, but only did well bc those were very easy classes.My husband has had a very hard time finding another job. He applies to other ones regularly, with varying degrees of success, but not to the extent of a job offer. The job market here for his type of work is just not a viable one, and hasnt been for a couple of years.I think the CNA suggestion is a good one. I could work as a CNA part-time, but it would really only make sense to do that during times my husband is home. CNAs here make approx 9hr. Thats less than we would pay a babysitter.I have a direct-patient care position right now. I am an Audiology Assistant, pediatric. I love the kids, but need more of a challenge.Things Im sure of:Im going to quit my job. Sounds like a bad idea, and I know where youre coming from, but its for the best in my situation.Im going to go to school full-time for my pre-reqs. Then Im going to attend a full-time nursing program for one year.Im going to be a nurse.Im trying to figure out the smartest even though i realize its not anywhere near IDEAL way to use the resources we have available. Those include:student loansfinancial aidscholarships401KIRA monieshusbands current incomepart-time income I can generate via childcare for othersreceptionyardwork, etc.paring way down on fluff expenses  <response>: If child care is really as expensive as you say, just wait a couple of years for your child to start school before you quit your job. Losing your familys highest income and adding child care expenses seems like a bad plan. 