I raised 3 children and rebuilt my life after divorce. Then I went to university at 49

A few years before, my mother had been diagnosed with dementia at the age of 79. 

She had been living alone, but when her condition worsened, she had to move in with me.

Around the same time, I sold my marital home and bought another property. I was juggling caregiving, my studies and the administrative matters that came with the move and my mother’s care.

With two of my sons still in school, something was always happening at home.

Although most university lectures were held online due to the pandemic, I made time to attend in-person lessons whenever possible, as I found them more engaging and productive.

My responsibilities grew, but my support network did not. I was still a single parent with no one to turn to for help. 

My older sister lives in the United States, so I could not simply call on her to help care for my mother either.  

I realised then that no perfect arrangement would let me fully focus on my studies.

I just had to work around what life was already asking of me.