She had been using temporary adjustments to get through the school day.

Each adjustment seemed to solve one problem and reveal another.

“I should have pushed harder,” she said.

“You have been pushing,” I answered.

“You shouldn’t have to become an engineer or a lawyer just to get your child to class.”

She gave a brief, tired laugh.

“Some weeks I feel like both.”

The rotary club’s offer was welcome, she said, but it could not simply buy whichever motorized chair appeared in a catalog.