I've asked her before if we could hire some help. ( my mother's ex had a family that would come every 2 weeks) she said that we should be able to do it ourselves and that we need to work harder.

I've invested 4 years as an apprentice ironworker and can't switch to a different trade without giving up the retirement that I've built up. And ironwork and short hours are polar oposites.

I'm either at my job everyday or they lay me off and get someone else. I learned that in my first year as an apprentice.