telling kids ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2005
telling kids ?
2
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 3:54pm
When did you tell your kids? I am thinking it will be best to wait until I have an apartment. I am filing Friday but want to put off telling them as long as possible. We have everything worked out so I thought I would get a calendar and put the dates they will be with dad and all his information on it like phone number and address. What else should I do to help them understand it. They are 8,5,3,2. I have planned a play date with my 8yr olds best friend the week we tell them. I thought since her parents got divorced a couple of yrs ago she could help her. If not at least the break would be good. The kids know many families who are divorced so at least they kindof know how it would work.

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: gal_power
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 11:20am

Hi~


I told my kids that "mommy and daddy were going to


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2006
In reply to: gal_power
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:04pm

Gal

I told my children seperately at different times. I told DS (15) while he and i were visiting family for the weekend. I wanted him to have family close by if he felt the need to talk and seek support. I was very honest with him, given his age and his closeness to my STBX's alcohol problems. He cried for a long time and will still get upset because he cannot understand why his D cannot stop drinking and is unable to keep a job. He supports my decision, but still feels responsible for taking care of dad.

Likewise, I told my DD (10) when she and i were visiting family for the weekend. I told her two weeks before we planned on moving out. She is much younger and very naive in the fact that she believes in "Happily Ever After". However, on the other hand, she also very aware of her dads drinking problem and his inability to not provide for us because he has a disease called alcoholism. She too cried, but when she stopped, she thanked me for being honest because "she knew that something was wrong, but thought it was her." She was a little angry that she was the last to know. :-(

Good Luck. There is no right time or way to tell them. You should follow your instinct and make sure you are ready to discuss things on their level.

C

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