I’m not sure that people on the internet will be able to make this decision for me, but advice would be welcome!
I trained in a professional career, it was full on, I loved it. Then I had children, DH had an even more demanding job, the juggle really took its toll and I left while DCs 1&2 were little. Had a few years off and another baby, then went back to a job with a boutique consultancy run by a former colleague in a similar sort of area, but slightly less demanding. I work 3 days a week. I have a HUGE amount of flexibility - can start late, leave early, make up time on days off, swap days etc, no questions asked - it’s trusted that I’ll get the work done. I earn fairly well, and this job fits around my lifestyle (pets, DCs’ hobbies, volunteering). I have nice colleagues. However it doesn’t offer any career prospects (firm tiny, and I wouldn’t get the same sort of flexible deal if I went elsewhere), and it doesn’t inspire me.
As my children get older (2 now at secondary school) I’ve just got a real itch to retrain in something more people focussed. I get so much enjoyment from a very long term volunteering role, and with probably another 20 years to work (I’m mid forties) I just get a bit depressed about spending this in the corporate world, and would love some meaningful job satisfaction. However I think I’m unlikely as a new qualified person in a third / public sector type job (possibly social work or something along those lines) to find part time work, and would be taking a significant pay cut so would probably need to work full time anyway.
I think this comes down to: uninspiring, but flexible job 3 days a week that allows us to live the lifestyle we do just now for the other 4 days (and overall I’m very happy with my life!) vs retrain to find a meaningful career but accept other lifestyle compromises along the way (less time off / no volunteering time / less flexibility to fit work around children in holidays etc etc).
Any thoughts? DH is always going to be in a long hours corporate type of job, so he can’t plug many of the gaps when it comes to flexibility (can usually leave early for, eg, Sports Day, but not, eg, 3 x a week for extra dance show rehearsals!!)