To think I should know what I want to do with my life by now?

[pltzsgrrb]

I'm 36. I have a teen with sen and a baby. I've worked in the Early Years sector around my eldest's needs for most of my working life. Low pay. No degree. Starting to lose my love of it as feel undervalued and underpaid.

I'd be happy to retrain and get a degree in something IF I knew for sure I would love to do that job. But nothing jumps out at me.

Shouldn't I have an inkling of what I might want to do with the rest of my life?

I feel quite down at the moment that I'm likely never going to be comfortable money wise. I've no private pension. We rent. I'm tied with a teenager that is still at 15 too vulnerable to leave home alone.

How do you unpick all this and decide what to do to give your life a kick up the bum?!

Yes - yabu you're a grown up who should have their life together

No - yanbu being a grown up is hard

Its not just hard, it seems bleeding impossible at times.
I think you need to be kind to yourself. You've worked and supported your family for 15 years, through some hard times I bet. That's quite an achievement!

*You could look up viable University Prospectuses for 2021 and see what courses they offer, and see if any jump out at you.
*You could start a thread on MN asking for experiences from people with similar background; how have they progressed/changed careers?
*What DO you enjoy?
Do you enjoy reading? Maybe librarian/English Lit would be of interest
Do you enjoy computers? Maybe coding/development/IT would be of interest?
Do you enjoy working with children still? Perhaps there is a move within this field that would be more fulfilling for you. Midwifery/childminder/ special needs therapist

Think about what you enjoy and then explore what careers may be available within that interest.

Early 30's here, have worked every basic-ass job in this city. Have a degree I wouldn't even begin to know how to use. Probably needs something more specific on top to be anything more than decorative. And no idea what I want to do.

Well, I like the idea of acting/writing...but if I make those choices I'll no doubt spend the rest of my life skint and working any job I can take.

Tempted to take a social work course as I'm good with ppl. (That sounds like something maybe you would be good at too!) But I really dont want to do another 4 years in university lol.

Feel paralyzed with indecision tbh. I dont like feeling trapped so I'm tempted to pursue option one and do something creative related but in a round about way, that might trap me in a job I hate...as opposed to a career I hate. Rock and a hard place.