To want to better myself or is it all too late?

[LifeHope11]

I want to study for a professional qualification which I am three quarters of the way to completing. I have a full time job in the same field as my profession (which I gained last year after being made redundant some months before that - so I still feel a bit vulnerable) - there is no guarantee that this study will actually help me in my job though I do like learning. I have saved up so can fund it myself.

BUT here are all the reasons not to do it:

I have a severely disabled DS (10), he is at school now but don't know what the future will bring re caring for him when he leaves school, I am also worried about what abolition of DLA will mean for us;
There are limited jobs - no guarantee that career wise this will open any doors at all;
I am reaching a 'landmark' birthday this year (50! Aaargh!! It is so incongruous, not my emotional/spiritual age at all, I would like to be younger again please).

Should I forge ahead with this plan? Or am I being a delusional middle aged woman with a mid life crisis, who should admit that she has progressed as far as she is going to in life and learn to love what she has? I so want there to be much more to life but maybe there just isn't?

What would you do?

Keep at it, you sound like you've done brilliantly in extremely difficult circumstances.

The Tories won't be happy until we are all working til we drop, so it may as well ne doing something you enjoy and as others have said you'll have the best part of 20 years to forge a career.

It doesn't sound much like a midlife crisis to me.

never too late

I hope the day I stop learning things and trying to improve myself will be the day I die.

I have an email pal who is in his seventies and virtually paralysed. He is currently studying and english lit program with the OU

Where are you studying OP - can you take yor time or is it a fixed calendar?

Thanks again all of you. It is great to hear from those of you who are finding the time to study in challenging circumstances, that is so motivating (& well done to you too).

I have re-read what I wrote about myself as a 'delusional middle aged woman' - I deserve a slap on the wrist for that, really shouldn't put myself down that way when life can be so hostile already.

ComposHat - it is true what you say about us having to work till we drop, I fully expect to have to work into my 70s so may as well try to find at least some of it rewarding - also am proportionally earlier in my working life than the last generation of retirees!

Whatmeworry - I have a basic entry level qualification, then there is a window of opportunity within which I can start my study towards the higher level, that study would then be on a fixed calendar (though I can ask for & may get some flexibility due to my circs). So it is either now (or very very soon) or never.