What to do with my future? Want to do a course but don't know what. Need inspiration

[SunshineNeededNow]

Bit of background

Left school in 2000. Had a college place to do childcare. But in the summer I got a full time job. Well let just say I enjoyed it and loved the money. It was retail and the company was great to work for then.

Has ds 6 years later. I left to be a sahm.
2 yrs later me and dcs father spilt.
I was on income support for 2 years.(couldn't afford childcare and had no help) Then returned to my old job, which by then it had changed. Management was crap. But it paid the bills and loved the people.

Then I met my now dh. In 2015. Still hating my job but due to MH I never had the oomph to look for another. By 2017 I hated the job. Rarely went to work as signed off a lot with MH and we were expecting a dc (fertility treatment)
2018 we had a dc.. Dh then had a better job and I didn't need to work. So I decided to take 4 years off until she starts school which was all discussed prior to ttc,
2019 felt in a good place to think of a career and go to do an evening course
And bam. Fell pregnant with ds, totally shocked as was told we'd not conceive naturally.

So I'm now a sahm with a teen. A nearly 3 year old and a 1 year old.

My brain now feels like mush.. I could go back to my hated job in a flash when I feel I need to but in a different location but with same great people. But I know I'd be there and never leave

Or I could do a course. Use my brain. But I don't know what.
It's been over 20 years since school. I had all a to c gcses. So wasn't a bad learner.

I've looked online and then I feel over whelmed.

What are your interests etc? Nobody can give good advice without knowing what you're into.

Do you have any money for courses? Are you willing to go to uni/college? Do an access course?

Haha would help.

Well I liked doing volunteering at a primary when ds was there on my days off. But I don't know if I'd want to do that now. I think I need to escape kids! Haha.

Aprt from that I have not got many other ideas. I'm fairly good with numbers so maybe something in them lines.

This is what I mean I can't even thibk what I like anymore. 2 young kids plus lockdown has sent me into a mushy brain state

Ok,so what job do you want to do?thats a good start point
What are your strengths,what are your aptitude’s
If it’s a practical course how will you manage placements etc? Who’ll help with childcare etc
Funding how will you manage

Plenty adults go back to retrain and it works out splendidly

Erm, with respect this is something you have to figure out yourself. It’s hard to give advice when you haven’t even narrowed down a particular area that interests you.

Do you like your husband’s field?

Do the jobs of any of your friends or family interest you?

If you like retail, would you want to work up and become management? Would you like to pursue a head office role?

Also you could simultaneously work in retail and study, most students do. Albeit most students don’t have children, but with the pandemic it’s home learning at the moment so you could still make it work.

If it helps, what careers are absolute no’s for you?

Maths teacher? I know you said you wanted a break from kids, but teachers in STEM are always in demand. Accountancy? Both of these need retraining at uni level (I think - someone might know more about that?) Its defo not impossible to retrain though. I retrained at 28 and havent looked back 🙂

If it helps, what careers are absolute no’s for you?

This is a good idea. Give us some careers jobs that youd totally hate. That might help

Think of a job, something concrete that you want to do?
Can work weekend’s?shifts? What can’t you do?

Childcare would be easy now as df and ils are retired now and more than happy to have kids if needed.

Strengths. Good leadership, caring person,

What I want to. Well possibly something in the care worker industry or work in MH.

But apart from that I'm stumped

I retrained to be an adult nurse. Would that interest you? Once you've trained the options of what kind of adult nurse you want to be are vast.

Or if MH you could be a mental health nurse? Or a peadiatric nurse? Or a physicians associate?

Yes a management role in retail would even suit. I just need to use my brain more.

I think I need to have a proper think tbh.

No wouldn't want husbands field at all.

I have seen several degree level apprenticeships advertised lately some in retail logistics etc. I wonder if something like that would be useful to you.

Ok so get a job as an Hca or support worker.
What specific area of MH? Are you resilient and calm,are you emoathic. It will involve shift work and working bank holidays

Social work assistant? Them train as a social worker ?
Maybe look on your local hospital jobs site , you can work up in some roles or you may get more of an idea what you'd like ?

I think aim for a retail supervisory role and train for management. You can simultaneously look into studying and start your course. By the time you’ve graduated you’ll be more senior in your retail role which will help you find a role in your chosen field