Reply #21: I think it depends on the circumstances [View All]

If things were very rough, lots of fighting that the kids witnessed, they might take the news as a blessing. I certainly would have, but never had that opportunity. I grew up in a household where constant emotional abuse was a regular event, and I asked them as a teenager why they were married at all. The response I got is one I'll never forget... I was told I was "anti-family" by my own parents. In the years following, I moved 1500 miles away. My sisters plan to make similar moves when they can, and now my mother mopes because we've all "run away from her." Kids know when things are bad, and telling them that the fighting will stop could be taken well by them.

On the other hand, if it was a more friendly, "this wasn't meant to be" decision, it'll be a blow to them. :( I don't know what to say for a case like that... perhaps they stopped being best friends with someone, but ended the friendship by drifting apart. That might be something to compare it to if they don't understand.

I hope it works out well.