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I’m 46 years old and I start grad school in 3 days, isn’t that crazy? I mean… I don’t think so, it’s just my life now. It’s amazing what you can get used to once you realize what really matters.
I spent so much of my 20’s struggling to make college work but it just didn’t for me; I spent those years working 3-4 jobs just to have enough income to compete with my college-educated friends. I started my own business and made that work too, but for some reason I just couldn’t consistently attend school. The truth is, I’m glad I waited until my 40’s to do it because I had no idea who I was then and college would’ve been a waste.
The Path To RD
I just recently finished my year-long dietetic internship and before that, close to 5 years for my undergraduate degree in Foods & Nutrition. I left my almost 10-year marriage right before my 40th birthday and decided to pursue my dream career of becoming a Registered Dietitian while tackling single-mom life and all the other shit that comes with crash-landing out of a marriage as a stay-at-home mom into a full-time college student.
I made it here though, despite all of that. I’m about to get my Master’s in Exercise Physiology, which is super cool and not an easy program to get into. Nothing about this road has been easy but holy shit, it’s worth it.
It’s crazy what you get used to but it’s even crazier how we tend to hold ourselves back from doing the things we really want to do out of pure fear of the unknown. I’m now so used to being a student and single-mom, it’s my norm and I like it. I don’t have the flourishing social life like I did in my 20’s (cocktail hour isn’t that common these days, boring… I know), nor do I have the extra time or the need to blow my hard-earned cash at a moment’s notice… but I’m happy, truly happy and that’s all I care about.
Often times I think people view education as a punishment or chore, but at this point, I view it as an opportunity for freedom. You’re never too old to pursue what you love, regardless of the hard work and sacrifice it takes.
But the minimalist thing… are we talking “tiny living”? Do tell…
Rental prices suck right now and so does everything else about our current shit show of an economy, am I right? Being the stubborn woman I am has led me to fight the system by refusing to play the ridiculously high-priced rental game any longer. My kids and I have just about sold everything we own of value and are about to embark on a new “tiny living” adventure. No, as much as I love the van life videos all over YouTube and TikTok, that’s not our route quite yet but we are about to rent a 400 sq ft 1 bedroom home and make it our own. At first it was scary, listing all of our nice belongings up for sale to be bid down by the latest Facebook Marketplace scammer. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t freak the fuck out at one point, that’s for damn sure. But I’m at peace with it now and it feels good to just get rid of it all.
400 sq feet? But WHY?
My main goal of all of this is to teach my kids what really matters in life, and for me it’s about so many things. I know that grad school takes me away from being the “fun” mom – the mom with lots of free time or the mom who isn’t always studying for something, as if most mom’s weren’t stressed the fuck out in some way or another.
But the thing is, that’s all they’ve really known at this point since I’ve been in school since they were 4 and 6 years old. We’ve always made it work, no matter what and I’m proud of that. I want to be able to keep our expenses as low as possible so that we can enjoy the free time we have together. I refuse to work long hours to pay rent for a place I can’t even enjoy, that makes me feel bitter and I won’t do it. We don’t need THINGS to be happy, we’ve already had all of that and life wasn’t ever as good as it is right now.
Next we are going to buy an RV and go camping when we have free time, something we LOVE to do. We want to take trips and experience things together without the bills that come along with owning things we don’t really care about. I want to do well in grad school for the next two years but also still be a present parent; after all my kids are getting older and the world is so crazy right now.
What about carbs?
Oh yeah, this is where we talk about food and nutrition, carbs is always a great topic to start (or end) with. Or maybe that was just my attempt to tie this all together, knowing full well after consistently working 1:1 with clients now for over 2 years… that food is related to SO much more than nutrition. We talk about real life in our client sessions – people share their truths, their fears, their insecurities and their goals and dreams. We talk about how it feels to be in their skin, their relationship with food, what they were taught about their bodies both as children and as grown ass women and all of the messy shit in between. There’s always laughter and support but a lot of tears too, as real shit often brings. I’m lucky to be a part of all of it, every single bit and I wouldn’t change this career for the world.
But really…
I’m glad college didn’t work out in my 20’s because I would’ve never been able to enjoy or experience it all the way I have now, with such an appreciation for hard work and sacrifice through the toughest of times. These are the things that make life feel real, things that give it true meaning and worth.
Grad school and tiny living at age 46 as a single-mom might be crazy, but it’s the challenge I’m ready to take.
Thanks!
Thanks again!
This is a lovely open and sharing letter to let people know that with enough interest, planning, and tenacity you can make your goals happen. Support of all kinds also helps.