Long commutes and family life, is it impossible to have both?

[Terribleluck]

I'm currently unemployed thanks to being made redundant. I had the higher salary of the two, and to be able to afford our mortgage, I'd have to get at least a very similar salary. It's fairly early days as this is just the second week of active job seeking and I've already landed two interviews. One job keeps the status quo really nicely and the other one involved a 120mi daily commute, it's also more money, but that's secondary. I feel like we're in a situation that beggars can't be choosers, however my DH as much as he understands this he thinks our family life as we know it will end. We'd stop seeing the other DC asuch (as their other parents don't let them come to our place in public transport, and realistically we'd be able to pick them up around 630), I'll be knackered, etc... I don't think it's the end of the world, and yes I'd rather get the other job, but we've got bills to pay. The better paid job might be able to have some flexibility built into it, but it's hard to know yet.

You’ve only just started job hunting and are clearly doing ok so I’d be holding out.

And/or asking about remote possibilities. Eg going in once or twice a week only. Depends on the sector but I’ve just landed a job which is only 1 dpw on the office and remote working is def a big thing in my industry esp but not only since the pandemic.

Wouldn't do it unless you absolutely have to. Your toddler might go to bed at 9 now, but likely won't once at school (which isn't that far away), and once you've taken the job you'll be in a much worse position to find anything better.

Have you also looked at anything remote? Might not be an option in your field, but even if you have to stay away one night a week to do 2 days work in a further afield office, would be better than your kids never seeing you during the week.

Forgot to add neither offer great career prospects (unless I become a COO or a manager in the lower paying one). There's a third one that offers great flexibility, decent career prospects but terrible pay (and an industry I have no passion for).

The job I really want is remote. I think I aced the interview, so the next stage would only be a matter of selling myself even better