Hello- Am I making a mistake?

First, thanks for a fantastic forum. I've been lurking but I had to sign up to use the search function.

My community college is putting on a career fair this weekend for their trucking program. I know for sure Sharky and Dot foods will be there, probably a lot more. It's in Quincy, IL. I also found out I qualify for a WIA grant and that the fees are covered. I did apply. If I do this I would plan on the 10 week training beginning February 11 and ending the end of April. That time frame fits into both my personal schedule and WIA time frame, as well as the college.

My circumstances:
Widow to a truck driver
Grew up in truck driver/ farmer family (neither parent drove, everybody else did)
Youngest graduates high school in May
School bus 4 years (quit to currier- more money)
Currier 3 years (DEA certificate for narcotics) about 400m/ day
Clean record all the way around

Currently working as a home health aid. I love my job and my client but it's temporary until her sister comes back, also only getting 23 hours a week. I've asked for more hours but there aren't any available. Honestly I lucked out getting such a great client and I don't think I want to stay in this field. The pay isn't so great.

I've spent the last 20 years being a mom and sacrificing pay to be there for my kids. I'm so glad I did. Now the kids are grown. I wish I could see my kids more, but they are so busy doing there own thing. My husband passed away 6 years ago, and I'm sitting in a great big house alone. The only decent jobs in my area involve transport. I AM NOT THE OFFICE TYPE! More of the outdoors type. I am 42, ready to travel, and get a steady paycheck.

I have a relative who is trying to talk me out of it. He's never done anything else and he has little ones at home he misses. I've been on the worst docks from East St. Louis to Gary with my husband, so I have an idea of what I'm getting into.

I have a little time to think it over. I'd like some opinions from the drivers who are still out there. Thank you.

 

Thanks for replies.

Jgremlin:
My schedule is wide open. I think I'd like to be home a minimum of once a month, to pay bills, check in etc. More often would be better. My youngest will probably stay here after high school. He will mow grass, etc. I own. If he moves out (not likely) I have other kids that would love to live here. I do have friends and neighbors that keep an out out for me when I travel now. My friend brought over a load of cattle one night at midnight to change a fuse for my daughter, and it turned out power was out all over town!

I'm not sure of what type of driving I want. The only experience I have is with dry van. There is a lot of local tanker opportunity around here though, everything from hog waste to dynamite. My brother told me to get every endorsement I can. I figure I will have to take what I can get the first few years. There's a lot of groceries too. Dot is 28 miles from me, but I hear groceries aren't easy.

Obviously I want to earn and keep as much as I can, but right now I'm living on barely anything from a part time job and some seasonal work. Even when I did the pharmacy route I never netted over 20k. So I will take what I can get and be grateful.

Thank you so much.

Edit to add:
I question all my big decisions. I like to think about things before I make a big change.

 

and very hard to get on there pete

 

Not at all Jgremlin I'm saying 20k is twice what I'm living on now.

Haha pete why is everybody always hating on the green and yellow?

As far as eating goes, I've been living on my own cooking this long I can figure out how to rig up a mobile kitchen.

Thank you both.