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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

When during divorce to tell small children?

5 replies

mugginsalert · 11/09/2017 14:18

Husband confessed 12 month affair in May, we're divorcing, have just received decree nisi. Husband now has finished with OW and wants to 'sort something out to stay together' so being passive in divorce arrangements and won't move out at least until finances are sorted and divorce is final.

My kids are 6 and 3. They don't know anything yet, and I think they don't even suspect anything is wrong. I thought initially they are so young that I should only tell them when we can give them firm information about where daddy will live, when he will see them etc. But now I feel very guilty about them being the last to know, worried sick about how this will affect them, and feel like I'm lying to them pretending it's all happy families still when it isn't. Meanwhile H is being much more involved with childcare and house stuff than previously which they enjoy and which I worry is going to make the change even more difficult.

Can anyone share their experience about when to tell the children? Is it better to tell them when he's still here so they can get used to the idea, or to wait until he has accommodation and is moving out? How can young children be helped to understand what is happening whilst minimising the upset?

TIA

OP posts:
user1497991628 · 11/09/2017 19:21

No advice, but have just told mine. He's not leaving immediately; he needs to get a place.

It's shit. But at least it's done.

SweetLuck · 11/09/2017 19:43

We told our DD about a week before I moved out, she was 4. I felt this was enough time for her to get used to the idea, without having to live with it so long that she got confused.

Flopjustwantscoffee · 11/09/2017 22:34

I told my three year old a week before I moved out and showed him the house we would be living in, and to be honest I wish I'd left it slightly later as he was really excited about living in a new house (I suspect due to it being full of moving boxes and all echoey) and kept getting impatient about when he could sleep there. Not trying to downplay that the actual reality of his parents being separated/dividing his time was probably hard for him, but he was too young to grasp the reality of it even though I'd explained in simple terms before then. One thing I am glad I did is for a few weeks before moving out we read books about divorce (two homes and standing on my own two feet are both good) so he understood the concept before having to apply it to him. I am not sure that that would work with a six year old though. They would probably twig something was up if a lot of books about separation materialized.

mugginsalert · 11/09/2017 22:48

Thanks for replies.
Hope you're ok user149, that sounds tough.
A week sounds a good time for the little one then, SweetLuck and Flop. I'd thought of books but I think my older one would work it out, might look at some for talking it through with him after he knows though. Thanks again.

OP posts:
user1497991628 · 11/09/2017 23:02

Thanks muggins

Least it's done. Hope yours goes ok.

My dcs are older, so possibly more difficult.

Never fun though

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