Need to make a life change!!

[Turtlemaker]

Hi everyone, I need to let off some steam and would really appreciate any advice or thoughts from a fresh perspective..
I'm amum of one (15 month old). Went back to work 6 months ago 4 dpw (out of necessity) and really not enjoying it. I have a long commute (3hrs per day) and I'm doing the same job I've done for nearly 7 years. Not fulfilled or stimulated by it at all, feel like my brain is shrinking!!! I honestly feel like a failure, I should have made a change years ago but didn't. Anyway, awful thing is I have a place on a teaching course but have realised I cannot afford to take it up - we can't live off my husbands salary. Money is very tight as it is.
To complicate matters we would like another baby. My current employer has a very good mat package so I feel trapped there now - hate having to think like this but we're not fortunate enough for this not to matter!! I wonder if I should do something drastic and leave (husband thinks this is a terrible idea) and look for work locally. I'm getting quite depressed at times because I'm so unhappy. I would love to be a SAHM at the mo but this really isn't realistic. I feel guilty for complaining as I know I'm lucky in lots of ways but I know if I don't make a change things are only going to get worse- I already feel like I'm losing my mind! Any constructive advice for me gratefully received.

I sympathies OP.

Purely pragmatically, if you want another child soon and are ready to ttc now, and they have a good mat package, if you can bear it perhaps you should stick it out. I felt similar to you in between my children but found once I was pregnant and 'the end was in sight' it was easier to bear. Though I have to say whilst I didn't enjoy my job and it was stressful, it was at least local.

I think I'm right in saying that if you found a local job you'd probably have to wait sometime to be eligible for the mat leave full package and it may not be as good anyway.

In the meantime is there any scope for development at work or working from home sometimes?

Thanks perrinelli. Yes I am lucky in that I work 1 day a week from home.
We are already ttc, so fingers crossed it happens soon as like you say when the end is in sight it makes it slightly more bearable!! Only thing is I'd have to go back for 3 months afterwards or pay back the enhanced money. Still, by then I might have other work plans in the pipeline..
Just feeling so frustrated at the moment! No real career progression available here but I'm keeping an eye out for other internal jobs coming up as a change might be waft I need. Really gutted I can't take up the place on the pgce course however it was an unrealistic goal at the moment I think.