One of my girlfriends went down the teaching path, then did a masters in social work and is now a child protection officer, she decided to do this because she is a single mother and wanted to be a better parent for her child until her child was of a reasonable age (child now 10). It wasn't like her child had no idea of the "nasties" out there, as her mother and one of her mother's friends fostered a family of 3 children (the friend is also a child protection officer).

There are ways you can still get into child protection if that is what you truly want to do. Good luck with it all.