We have a 4 yr old & a 2 yr old, and ExH moved out a month ago, due to years of ongoing issues with his drinking/drug use/gambling. I'm very secure in this decision and don't want him back, but as I have taken him back so so many times before, ExH believes I can be convinced and he can talk me round again.
The 2 yr old is generally oblivious. 4yr old is a very emotionally aware and sensitive little thing. She comes home from seeing ExH and says things like "Daddy is so sad, why can't he live at home anymore", or draws pictures of him with a sad face and says "I have drawn Daddy sad because he doesn't live with us now". FWIW she has never indicated that she is sad at this (he was always hands off and quite useless), just that it upsets her that her daddy is sad.
I spoke to him and asked him to stop saying things to her. He says he doesn't say anything to her to indicate he is sad (I don't know if I believe this), but that she just must be picking up on his emotions. He sees them for two evenings a week, and one day at the weekend, always out of the house, but he has been here once to watch them.
When she brings it up I try and move on like "Daddy isn't sad, silly. Mummy and daddy both love you very much and Daddy has a whole new house to himself now which is exciting" or somesuch, but I don't really know if I'm addressing the issue right - both with ExH and with DD. Any thoughts?