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What to say to a four year old...

I'm 90% certain my marriage is over.  I'm feeling as good as I can about it...I know it's the best decision for me and also for my 2 boys -- ages 1 and 4.  I don't know what to tell my 4 year old.  Right now we've been saying that daddy is gone for work, he was gone fishing for the weekend (both of these things were true, but the real reason he did those things was to not be here).  Now he keeps asking when daddy is coming home to stay and it kills me.  I can't even begin to form words.  He loves his daddy and this will tear him apart -- it's almost worth staying in the marriage -- but I know that isn't the best choice.  Can anyone offer suggestions?

 Thanks.  

Re: What to say to a four year old...

  • My son was 4 when I left my XH.  I think what you say to him really depends on what you have decided to do which doesnt' really sound clear at this time.  Are you separating?  Getting a divorce?  Is he still going to see his dad?  How often?  If you have a better idea of what the plan is, I can try to help you figure out how to say it to your son.  And I'm sure he'll be fine.  My son doesn't even remember when we all lived together (he is 6 1/2 now)

  • image+Black Kitty+:

    My son was 4 when I left my XH.  I think what you say to him really depends on what you have decided to do which doesnt' really sound clear at this time.  Are you separating?  Getting a divorce?  Is he still going to see his dad?  How often?  If you have a better idea of what the plan is, I can try to help you figure out how to say it to your son.  And I'm sure he'll be fine.  My son doesn't even remember when we all lived together (he is 6 1/2 now)

     

    Thanks for the response.  I don't think the conversation is ever easy, but I think because nothing is firm, it's even harder.  I don't know where H will live.  I don't know how often DS will see him.  I would say that we are separating right now, but divorce feels inevitable to me.  And my husband won't talk logistics with me because he's so angry/hurt/emotionally unstable.  So I feel stuck.  This doesn't help much, does it?

  • I would say at this time don't say much to your son about splitting up until you have more concrete plans.  I would also work with your H to have a plan for him to spend time with his son rather than trying to get away from the family.  I mean I would imagine he's trying to get away from you and not his kids.  Something that worked pretty well for us before we officially separated was splitting the weekend up with our son.  I would spend Saturday with him and my XH would spend Sunday with him.  He'd take him fishing or to play ball or something.  Instead of your husband escaping to work or somewhere else maybe you could work something like this out so your kid doesn't miss out time with his dad.
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