To ask what you would do: Jobs

[UoMomster]

Please help me- which should I do. I am torn.
Background 2 kids (5 and 2.5). DH can wfh and is hands on with drop offs/facilitating after school clubs etc. He is the higher earner (approx 150% of my salary).

Job 1:
-3 days a week (22.5 hours) flexible working (sometimes office/sometimes home depending on meetings etc)
-Failed to get a promotion recently despite doing the higher level job- was v disappointed. Waiting to see if current role can be upgraded as am already doing it (however been told there will be no financial uplift despite higher workload)
-Good opportunity for progression in future
-Flexible so can take time off for kids stuff and also can take A/L in school hols with no limit. Also generous A/L allowance (40 days/year!)
-Not really what I want to do. I 'don't mind' it but no huge passion

Job 2:
-33 hours a week in 3 days (11 hour days). I would drop kids at school/nursery, DH would do pick up. I would miss bedtimes those days
-Less flexible- 27 A/L days a year, always in office (in a hospital), A/L limited to 1 week xmas, 1 at easter and 2 over summer.
-Good opportunity for progression and will fund training
-I love it. Absolutely my passion and day to day would enjoy work much more.
-More money as compressed hours so same childcare bill but more hours in 3 days, Salary same as now to start (just under 40K).

WWYD? I have amazing work/life balance now but feel so unhappy and blah in my job.

Omg definitely option 2- people can spend their entire lives searching for a job/field they love and are passionate about. If it actually sucks then you can go back to option 1.

BUT caveat that with "everyone has different needs and priorities". If feeling fulfilled and challenged is super important to you, you won't cope in option 1. If flexibility and always being home for bedtime is (completely validly) your priority, you'll be unhappy in option 2.

I've had boring jobs with amazing work life balance that I was bored to tears in and quit, but I didn't have kids then. I've also had interesting, challenging and stimulating jobs where I was working 16 hour days and so stressed I was making myself sick. I also quit those. My field is highly paid but always either boring or stressful, hard to find a happy medium.

@Bootiesandsocks you’ve summed it up entirely! It’s a real head or heart decision (although my head is also saying consider more money especially with the rising cost of bills!)