You don’t mention where you live, and I think that’s very relevant. Are there agencies in your community that can help you transition back in to the workforce?
I haven’t had a salaried job since 1996 so I understand your concerns. I’m inferring that you’re getting child support; maybe you can get the order revised to keep getting money as long as your child is in school? My son is 21 and I still get a little for him (about half what I should be getting under the federal guidelines but I don’t have the resources to take the bum back to court 
).
Good luck!
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