Separation rarely arrives with a clear checklist. Whether it's been building for months or has come as a shock, the first few weeks are often the hardest and most disorienting. Here's a practical starting point for where to focus first. Look after the immediate, practical things Before anything else, get a clear picture of your immediate situation. Where will you and your children be living, at least for now? Do you have access to important documents, such as identification,

Telling your children you're separating is often one of the hardest conversations a parent will ever have.