I’m 44 years old, child-free, and married for the first time in 2020 to my longtime partner who is 10 years older than me. In 2021, my father died unexpectedly after 44 years of marriage to my mother. She moved straight from her fathers house to her marriage when she was 20 years old and knew nothing else. Helping my mother navigate her new life has been eye-opening. My father took care of so much that she remains bewildered and stressed to her limit when she has to take in her car for an oil change. She has no interest in getting remarried, and I (her oldest daughter) am pondering what the remaining years might look like for my 67-year-old mother, as well as for me, a potential caregiver. This also spills over to pondering what my life might look like if I too end up widowed or divorced. Life offers no guarantees. I found your Substack and hope to gain more insight from you and the community you are forming. Thank you!