Precognition is a fairly common psychic phenomena in a witchy life style. After all, what is a Tarot reading for? The dream state is a likely time to come through because we are relaxed and more receptive. Our brains never stop functioning. I feel these heads-up come from our higher self, our own over-soul as well as the occasional outside intervention. In my opinion they are meant to prepare us, and help us to handle the blows life pitches our way, big & small. It is rare that we can interpret the content & act to prevent the events they predict by any thing more decisive then ducking at the opportune moment. We can offer assistance and concern after. We truly can't control other people.
Here's a totally trivial example: several days in a row I'd kept "seeing" my favorite coffee mug smashed on the kitchen floor, but I didn't know how it got there. I then took special care to not leave the cup near the edge of a counter where a cat or a quick motion from me might knock it off. Then, while in another room, with all cats present, I heard a crash and shattering noise from the kitchen. Well, dang it all. The wall clock had fallen off the wall,
bounced and pushed the cup from it's safe place to smash on the floor. Sigh.

I mean, geez. The clock had been in it's place for years.
And my sympathies for your family traumas.