The marriage would have had a better chance if the issues had been handled during the courtship. It was the way their parents related. Each came from a divorced home. Parents who discuss and solve problems have children who do the same. Tell your kids the truth.
Many rules are for a parent's benefit.
I worry if I do not know where you are. Parents who use the first statement have the children who fill in the blanks. The child thinks that the parent is lying. It causes resentment, loss of respect, and a need to prove it is a lie by testing. Parents who use the second statement almost never have the problems.