I am about 9 months away from finishing my dissertation work myself and will be thinking good thoughts for you as you get ready to graduate.
What field are you in? I read that, with a little thought, academics in almost any field can do some consulting on the side, it isn't limited to the obvious fields like business or ed. Maybe once you get your feet wet you can start consulting and increase your income? Also, some of the online schools will take people with masters degrees to teach online courses. This might be more doable for you w/6 kids than adjuncting at the local community college, but you could try that for extra money as well.
I don't have 6 kids, but I was widowed young and have had to take care of my 1 boy so I kind of have an idea what you're going thru. Hang in there.
THanks for the encouragement. (In previous post I mentioned I am a voice teacher/classical singer.) I guess the problem is to climb the academic ladder at my age is unusual... to climb it at my age with just a masters has much against me. Usually one has to start by adjuncting with community colleges, etc. This is all very nice but at this stage of my life, I just want to work a 40 hour week and get a regular paycheck. I have been on public assistance for years while I have been working part time, and finishing both my BA and my MM part-time (for the last 6 years!!!!) and BTW I have a 3.9+ GPA so I am no slouch here .... my marriage has crumbled (part of why I have had to do this) but I am hanging on for the sake of these 6 precious lives who do better with us together than apart (been separated twice over the last 3 years)... long story but I at this point don't want piecemeal work, which is basically what I would have to do if I climb the academic ladder... I can't afford that now... this is why I am planning to take the Praxis exams for music certification and try to get a job teaching public school (as I CHOKE) because what else CAN I do as a musician which pays you a regular paycheck every week???? I'd really love to know!!!!!!