<p>I’ll second the notion that you speak with an experienced grief counselor/hospice worker. They may have more experience and insight with what comes after three months from now – as in what your mom may be experiencing and what needs to be done financially, housing wise, work wise, tax wise – the more you understand the steps, the more appropriately you can make your choices. </p>
<p>My mother died when I was in grad school. We got through the funeral ok – but I didn’t realize how lonely my Dad was six months later. He started going to bars just to have someone to talk to – thank goodness some family friends started introducing him around and he met a lovely lady – but there was a point there when he could have been very vulnerable to someone with larceny in their hearts. Some miserable beings actually read the obits page to identify lonely survivors . . . </p>
<p>Have a conversation with your mom. She might actually be OK with you being at school this term if you chose to be nearby for the summer.</p>