After 10 years in frustrating but reliable local employment with ok pay (for part time local work for which most of my peers have no formal qualifications) I have started studying for a professional qualification (chartered status) in a field I have no practical experience of. It draws on elements of my experience in a career job before I had children but I'm under no illusions and know that even once I've passed all the exams I will need to start at a junior level and possibly won't earn what I do now for a couple of years plus I will probably need to work full-time. The exams are demanding and I'm finding studying enjoyable but stressful alongside work and family life, plus its likely to cost in the region of £5k to complete. It is interesting work and I believe I will be well suited to it. There are well paid jobs in the field and you can progress reasonably quickly but it may require a commute for the best opportunities which I'm not sure I am willing to do. If I returned to my old career job that would also require a commute hence why I've been out of it for so long but I'm now wondering whether I wouldn't be better off reconsidering that although I suspect I may not have much credibility after so long out of it.
Alternatively, I could buck my ideas up at work with a view to progressing there but realistically it doesn't interest me very much, particularly not full time and I badly need a change of scene/new challenge/learning. Plus the nature of the business means you need to be prepared to work anywhere with little notice which would be worse than a commute for the family.
I am seemingly cursed with an overload of drive but no blooming direction so I go round in circles but have to be doing something. Should I be satisfied by working locally and having a really good life part of work-life balance? Am I'm just knocking myself out to mess things up for me, dh and the DC? Career isn't everything, and 11 years ago I didn't believe I would ever had the family I do now.