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How much to tell the kids? 

After reading Mb's entry "Let's Stop the Dance" I have had alot of questions about how much to tell the kids.  My kids are 12 and 10 and it really hurts knowing how much this is going to hurt them.  We are planning on telling them together sometime this coming week. 

My unhusband is going to be away in the middle east for a year (he leaves in June) and I am worried the kids will turn any resentment or anger they have about this divorce towards me while he's gone.  This is going to be really hard to deal with because I feel just as much like a victim as they will. 

It's always been his lying, his yelling, his abuse (verbal and physical) and now it's his cheating.  They have seen some of his verbal abuse firsthand and have been through a split with us before when we almost got divorced two years ago. 

I am completely prepared to deal with their pain and hurt and do my best to help them through it, but I don't know if I could handle dealing with any blame from them on top of my own grief.  What should I say to them?  How can I get it across that this is all his choice and I am hurting too without telling them details?  And when do you tell them details, if ever?  When they're adults? 


 

 

by Emeraldsky  168 Posts 
Posted on 5/10/2008 10:32 AM
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Comments for "How much to tell the kids?"  (5) (You must be logged in to answer)




I will definitely stay to the basics.  It's so hard to know what to say when your kids looks at you with soulful eyes and are asking why they're family is breaking up.  It's difficult to field those kinds of questions but I will do the best I can.  I can see where keeping the upper hand will have it's benefits in the long run. 

Thanks for your advice!
by Emeraldsky   168 Posts
Posted on 5/12/2008 10:00 PM
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Not only do I agree with everyone else, I am in a similar situation..the cheating. 

While my pride and joy is only 9 I have only told him what he needs to know. We are divorcing, its not his fault, he will see his dad......

Now in my situation, when ever my unhusband has our son, he is with the "tramp" (as I call her to my friends only) I don't talk about her at all when my son is with me. So here is what I know in my heart...While at 9 he sort of knows what is going on, one day he will start to look at what happened to his family, the questionsl will come. He will be able to look back and realize that his dad left his mom and started immediately to be with another woman, while mom stayed at home and never had men over at all.

I feel sort of bad for my unhusband because when our son realizes that his dad cheated and wrecked his family I don't think he will like his father very much. I want nothing more than for them both to have a wonderful relationship, but my unhusband is making some poor choices that will eventually come back to haunt him.

So I would say that sooner or later your sons will figure it out for themselves. The very fact that you did not "out" your ex will have you looking like the better person in the end. Stay strong!
by jkf   62 Posts
Posted on 5/12/2008 7:34 PM
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