I'm so sorry for what you and your kids are dealing with and they are lucky to have a father like you. Food is essential to learning and your S5 needs to have a good breakfast. KML's idea on telling the teacher and having the teacher have some snack for him is a great idea. You can also throw some protein bars in his backpack, they will stay for a while.
My mother was bipolar. She unfortunately wasn't capable of the motherly things either. She rarely cooked, we at takeout and her mind was only on what could fix her depression next, which was usually gambling. My dad did not leave until I was 17 and old enough to take care of myself, so he made sure I was taken care of, even though he didn't cook. But he was the one who left early in the morning to take the train to the city to work and came home at night. My mom couldn't hold down a job and was on and off disability. She would pretty much sleep or clean all day long and then go to bingo at night when my dad got home.
You being there for you kids and caring the way you do will make a huge difference in your kids life. My dad did that for me. He was my rock, and still is. Do what you can, and if you truly feel they aren't safe, then you need to take action on that.
With bipolar disorder, it's more than waking up from a MLC. Bipolar disorder is real illness and a real crisis. I hope she decides to get the help she needs to be the best mom she can. My mom always wanted to be a good mom, I knew she loved me, she just didn't know how.
