Hello mate, I feel ya hurt brother.
Next is the kids, now I see mine not unlike a crutch or my support(as I have no other support). They are too young to understand our worries but just let them be loving to you and laugh with them as much as you get chance. There are always times we catch ourselves smiling/laughing and think, hang on, it’s all still a mess. Thing is those few seconds when you forgot about the mire were wonderful and you can have them more frequently.
I have got 3 under 11 yrs and their mum died 18 months ago. I feel ya man. I’d take the girls into school and simply ask for help with uniforms. Ask them for direction/advice on how it’s possible to get assistance. I know zero about benefits yet, sorry.
Take word for word what they say and approach for Universal credit help.
Most important is your mental health and energy levels mate. It takes an awful lot out of us to speak nice and coherently to people that don’t often seem to care but keep going baby steps if necessary and deal the best you can when you feel you can. You will meet a professional that cares and things will look more hopeful in some time but you gotta be your best to push this on.
Our best is not always up to scratch or ,’enough’ but if it really is your best then it will be recognized somewhere along the line, brother. This is certain.
As soon as I hit the deck these days that bloody annoying Yazz song kicks in,”The only way is up”.
I hope you find and maintain some small peace in you and get what you need to feed and build it.
