Oh ((((hoping)))) I see a bit of myself in his parents, and it makes me feel ashamed.
We are not wealthy, but we did sometimes look to our son-in-law as a "great white hope" for keeping our daughter clean. She is still clean today, but we also never gave HER much credit for that. I can see that just by reading your post... it may not make sense, but it does for me.
You are an incredible woman.... up against such odds, and still paddling to beat the band!! Yay Hope!!!!
My sis, who is 47 years old, 3 years clean and sober and totally broke has been living with my mom and taking classes at the community college. She also needs something that will earn her a decent living and get her into retirement without having to rely on someone else.
Her choice has been to study for a radiological technology degree. Because she didn't finish high school, she has spent some time getting caught up in those classes, and at the end of the year, she expects to have her AA completed. Which will be just in time to get into the Tacoma Community College radiological technician course. She is excited.
She will need to do about 3 years at TCC, but will be coming into a job field that pays about $26/hr. to start - often with a sign on bonus of a couple thousand dollars. Minimum wage around here is almost $8/hr, so she will be making 3 times minimum wage... if that helps correlate the wage to whereever you are.
She won't have to deal with body fluids, or life/death issues and though there may be some lifting, it shouldn't be beyond her ability. It is a technical field (she took some career classes and found out she excels at detail oriented stuff), without the need for in-depth communication (a place where she is still developing skills).
Sound like a choice for you? Especially if you already have high school under your belt... this is a field that is looking for candidates.
Another one is "respiratory therapy"... from what I understand, it has a similar timeline for education and similar pay.
If you are in a desperate hurry, you might check out phlebotomist... the person who draws blood at the hospital lab. This job generally pays fairly low, but can get you in the door to receiving benefits and a steady income. It also can be had with "on the job training".
I do wish you well, and pray you can live each day to the fullest. Try not to "future-trip" too much... I doubt they can't "get the kids" because YOU are a fine and upstanding parent, it is THEIR son who is the addict.
You might want to document with pictures, gather up any documentation of your hubby's arrests, job failings, reprimands and store it some place safe - maybe a file folder at your mom's. No need to make things easy on them IF (big IF) that time comes.
You are a good woman. You are a good wife. You are a wonderful mother.
THOSE are the things to hang onto.
(((hoping))))