Zainabu is a 39-year-old year mother of three school-going children aged between 8 and 14 years. She was brought up in a small industrial town in an extended family system. She described her family of origin as a conglomeration of multi-generational homesteads. She is a professed Muslim and cohabited with her Christian male partner for seven years before formalizing their marriage, which lasted for six years. She has been battling in court to retain the custody of her children. During difficult times, she receives support from her mother and other close relatives to meet basic needs for her family. A close examination of Zainabu’s family history demonstrates the diversity and evolution of family structure throughout an individual’s life course.