Sorry not to come straight back - having problems with broadband. Yes, I had to watch people at work get promoted over me because they had a degree and I only had O levels. It rankled!
I am not amazing just had a lot of support from dh and my mother! In fact, it was dh that dragged me out of the house and dumped me at the college for the access course because I was suffering with depression after giving up work when I had dd1 (I was 30) and he was at his wits end. I got confused with the time line sorry - I actually did the access course while pregnant with dd2 not after. It was a daytime one 10-3 and full time over a year. It is supposed to be at the level of A levels but without the depth of knowledge. They concentrate on techniques rather than knowledge, ie they prepare you for Uni by giving you the skills you need to research and write essays etc. Unis accept access courses in place of A levels. Some courses will take mature students without either and have their own foundation course but I'd recommend an access course. The tutors advised me on what to apply to Uni for and helped me with the application - I wouldnt have even considered going to Uni if they hadnt told me I could do it. I got the prospectuses from three local Unis and got accepted straightaway. I didnt find it hard to pass intellectually but it required effort to complete the assignments etc.
I was scared witless that Uni would be full of egg-heads and I would be way out of my depth but nothing has been further from the truth. It has been so easy that I feel a complete fraud - I am sure someone will find me out someday! I had to work hard and it has been traumatic at times (writing up my PhD was the hardest thing I have EVER done) but I cant believe how easy it has been for someone like me to become an academic. I have to keep pinching myself. I get invited to speak at international conferences, go on the telly, have papers published in journals (thats a real thrill!) etc. Me! And I used to work in a shop!!!! Not that theres anything wrong with that just a complete change of direction! I love my subject (archaeology) - its simply a joy - and I try very hard to do it well but that is all. I am no genius.
As far as the degree goes, if you want to do it there is no reason why you cant (apart from money and childcare of course). Depending on your subject, you probably wont have that many contact hours a week - lab-based courses tend to have more but I would guess with history you wont have lectures every day and some days you might only have an hour or two. You can do work in the library in the evenings and at weekends. I find unis far more undertanding and flexible than working in retail or manufacturing and certainly in my department they bend over backwards to help and accommodate your needs. Its not unknown for people to bring their children into lectures for example. And I have just got a permanent post whilst on maternity leave - its probably more usual to get the sack!!You can do lots of degrees part-time and some even modular (like the OU course). A lot of unis are desperate for students and coming up with all sorts of flexible learning routes.
Mature students usually do very well because they are there because they want to be and they listen and meet deadlines etc - they value the experience more. I often had to work through the night to get my essays done (it was a matter of pride not to miss any deadlines or ask for extensions so probably my own stupid fault!) and dh says he felt like a single parent some weekends but it WAS worth it and gave me a great sense of satisfaction. Even if I had only done the degree I would have been happy - all the rest has been an unexpected bonus. If I were to offer you one piece of advice I would say at your (our!) age, indulge yourself and do a subject you LOVE not one you think you OUGHT to do, or would have chosen at 18, because it will be a lot easier to find the motivation and stick at it.
Its teh half terms that pose a problem as my Uni at least doesnt break for them but they run holiday clubs for the kids as a lot of lecturers are in the same boat. But if you have to miss a weeks lectures you can always catch up. Just work clever (you'll know how to do that if you have worked and looked after kids!) You get long holidays at Christmas/Easter/Summer, longer than schools.
Gosh thats long - have I answered everything?