As per the title really.
DH and I are separating. We are both going through an emotional rollercoaster at times, and still both angry and grieving at times but we both are hoping we'll come out of this as friends and amicable co parents. I instigated the separation but to be honest we have been more like housemates over the past few years, no affection or intimacy, and DH has had mental health problems that I've struggled with.
We've got 2dc, ds16 and dd13. I'm absolutely dreading telling them, and I'm feeling so upset even as I write this, just imagining the shock and disbelief on their faces. I don't think they have any idea this would happen, DH and I don't argue (we used to, but for the past few years we haven't), although there is tension sometimes. It's going the be the loss of the dc's family unit, all they've ever known. DH has found a new place only 10 minutes walk from our house and there's enough room for the dc to stay.
We're planning to tell the dc next week during half term. We've had some advice from a mediator who suggested keeping it simple such as "Dad and I have decided to live in separate houses. We both love you both very much, this isn't your fault, we've just decided that it will be the best way for us going forward. We are still a family (and then tell them about how the structure of the weeks will work re when they will see each parent etc)"
She said not to get into the "why" of why this is happening as its not really appropriate to tell them the details of our marriage breakdown which I agree with. I'm just worried that they will ask why, or ask more detailed questions, and then what do we say?
Has anyone told their dc and had a better response than they were expecting?