How to help kid with broken heart

In my experience, there isn't much you can do but just be there in case he wants to talk, or needs a hug. When I've been in your shoes, but not able to physically see my kids because of distance, I have always made an effort to call and just chat with him about things and to also drop him a card of encouragement in the mail. DS wouldn't ever tell me he appreciates getting the cards but I know he keeps them.

My biggest advice (and you know this) is to resist saying 'you're better off' or 'I told you so'.

When my son broke up w/his girlfriend of 3.5 years we were all sad. I loved her. Little did I know at the time that she had changed and wasn't who I thought she was. When he finally told us the story I tried to go back to my first breakup. I connected w/those feelings and told ds that for a while he'd suffer, but he would heal from this. I was very honest and really encouraged him to share his pain and to cry and express his feelings. I validated him, but never told him that she was a loser in case they got back together. I focused on allowing ds to feel his pain and reminded him that you can't avoid it and the healthiest way to deal w/grief is to move through it. Though I did remind him that he's completely lovable and that should he choose to find love, again I would support that. Flash fwd, he has a relationship that he says is much healthier and he says he's much happier, too.

Let your son express his feelings, be his soft place to land and don't be cliche. Just listen and love him. It's painful to watch him suffer, but he'll be OK and so will you.  ITA that the band-aid on boo-boo years were so much easier.

My daughter went through this 8 months ago. When she was alone was the worst for her (she is in college). I encouraged her to make plans to be with friends as much as possible and that definitely helped...coffee dates with friends, going to the gym, study sessions. I just say and listened. Only time I said something was when she told me he would text her a lot saying he wasn't sure he made a mistake after he broke up with her and he wouldn't get on the phone to let her ask questions and put closure on their relationship.

That is something you can say!

I would tell my kids that Yes - it does get better with time, but that doesn't help you at all right now. I also told them how I wanted to help them, like when they were little, but it was something they had to deal with. I validated their feelings, but also wanted them to know what hurts so bad now, slowly does get better. Validation, open communication and NOT TOO MUCH communication is the path I followed.
Never say bad things about the former partner.
Don't bring it up all the time.
An occasional "how are you doing" is good.

I wish I could give you a thousand thumbs up! 

It still does.  No words, just a hug