We have two children, ages 6 and 8, and we're not sure what to tell them about why we're going to live apart.
Children are frightened, confused, sad and angry when parents separate.
Although the message you give your children will have to be tailored to their individual needs, there are some key things all children need to hear at a difficult time like this. First, assure your children that they did nothing to cause this separation. Tell them this is an adult problem and that it has nothing to do with anything the children have said or done. Tell the children that right now you are not sure what is going to happen, but that you hope you all can live together again soon. To that end, tell the children in simple terms the steps you are taking to work through your problems.