Hi, welcome
I've had 3 long term relationships that I've had to move on from of duration 7,11 and 10 years. The 11 year one was a marriage and when we split the kids were 7 and 4yo.
The devastation was hard to cope with, I bought an old 10ft caravan and moved into a caravan park and had the kids every second weekend. Every morning I'd ring the school wanting to know how the kids were and if they made it on time as their mother was lazy. Eventually the principle told me to relax because "kids are more resilient than us adults". True. They adapt and any long term effect of a separation comes more when adults but cant be helped.
With the housing situation I might well be radical but if in the same situation as then I'd do the same, buy a caravan or better still if one can afford it, a mobile home and use that as my residence until things settle down, property divided and so on. I'd have 3 or 4 caravan parks that I'd move from one to the other so to avoid the permanent living issues Govts place on them now and I'd have my freedom. For the kids it would be like camping when they come to stay.
The grief process in the early days, weeks, months is unavoidable and that process cant be rushed. Until there is a diversion or a future plan created, family and friends cant do much so just being available and a chat every few days is a comfort. If their condition worsens then Lifeline of the number at the bottom of this page should be used.
For me I was a mess until 8 weeks after split I spotted a block of land, then kit home and I was so busy building and working I didnt have time to think about things much.
I hope that helped and well done in taking care of your family member
TonyWK
