Tough choices!

[stickstickstickystick]

So, I work part time in a job that I hate, but it pays well for the hours I work. However there is no career progression and I'm miserable every day.
I have the opportunity to up my hours to full time, but that would mean I'd see very little of my kids during the week.!( due to commute, they'd need childcare 7.15am-6.30pm, however one will be in school and the other in receipt of 30hrs funding, so this would hopefully be relatively inexpensive). I'd probably only see my husband 4 days a month plus the odd evening as he shift works. The increase in salary would be massively beneficial to us though as we struggle to get by most months.
Or
I could apply for a job in a school 10mins from home. I would still get quality time with the kids during the week as I'd need little in the way of childcare. And I'd see much more of my husband. And never have to worry about holiday childcare. The downside is that whilst my monthly take home pay would be more due to working more hours, it would essentially be a massive pay cut as the amount I'm paid per hour is significantly less. (About £10K less than what I'd earn full time in my current post)

I am so torn as I know I will be unhappy either way.

If you take the more family-friendly route, would this impact on your career long-term? Can you pick up on the fast track once you need less intensive childcare, or will you be doomed to working at a lower level?

If your long term prospects are good, I would go for family friendly for a few years. If you can’t afford gaps from your better prospect, then bite the bullet and get the childcare you need.

Assuming there are no other jobs available to apply for I think I would go for option 2, providing there would be enough money for food and rent each month.

Option 1 sounds like the worst of both worlds - no family time AND a job you hate.

Thank you for replies.

@CraftyGin it will definitely affect career prospects, if I leave my sector it will be near impossible to get back in as it is an area which is rapidly evolving. But only real route for career progression is for my work to sponsor training which is unlikely to happen if I don't up my hours. (there's no real guarantee it would happen full time either though) And all the extra money I'll earn from increasing hours isn't enough to cover the cost of childcare for two children. So we will actually end up worse off each month.

I'm going to sit down with my line manager this morning I think and table my options with her and make a decision based on that. If she can essentially guarantee some form of career development options for me then I may just suck it up and stay put. But if the training looks unlikely I will go for the other job. And look at retraining in a new field.

Sounds sensible. Good luck!