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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 75
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When separating under a Plan B, do you think that we should tell our teenage sons (15 & 19) why we're separating or keep it general (unresolvable marriage problems)? They know the OM, have played racketball together and occasionally e-mail him. Should we let them know specifically who the OM is in case he shows up at the house with my wife or not? He has been trying to avoid contact with them since D-day.<BR>

Joined: Apr 1999
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If your going to Plan B, the kids should know what's going on withn you & the wife besides "unresolvable marriage problems."<P>Besides, they probably know more than you do already!<P>------------------<BR>Prayers & God Bless!<BR>Chris<BR>For relationship info check out <A HREF="http://www.pcisys.net/~chriscal1/resources.html" TARGET=_blank>Marriage & Relationship Resources</A>

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Tom:<P>Have you decided what to do?<P>If you are still considering (and would like an opinion from someone pretty unfamiliar with teenagers) I think you should mention the reason for the separation. I think they will appreciate the reaffirmation that it isn't their fault that your marriage isn't going well.<P>What does everyone else think? --HBC

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First, let me state that I've decided I'm not ready to do a formal Plan B yet. Still have a lot of love for my wife and she for me.<P>If we do separate, it would be to see how living apart feels to us. While discussing it, she commented, "in breaking all contact with the OM, might absense make the heart grow fonder?". I told her possibly, but a separation between us might make our hearts grow fonder too. But I feel it's definitely easier to Plan A while together.<P>At any rate, because any initial separation would be intended to be temporary (and not a formal Plan B anyway, only semi-limited contact), we decided that we would not be more specific than "separating to try and work out some marital problems". There's still plenty of time later to get more specific, if necessary. Telling them about adultry upfront could cause more harm than good, assuming we got back together as intended. <P>Could they already suspect? Sure. Could they absolutely know for sure? Not likely. I never discouraged their belief in Santa Claus. Even though their friends probably leaked the news early on, they each chose to believe until 8 or 9. I felt they wanted to ease into the truth slowly until they were able to accept it emotionally. When each was ready to hear the truth, each came and asked my wife and I outright if there was a Santa Claus and only then did we feel it necessary to explain. What good would telling them the specific truth sooner have been? <P>We feel the same way now. Why blow their emotional worlds out of the water by spelling out something that then might seem very permanent and upsetting to them? Even after telling them, they may choose to deny it to themselves. If we choose to temporarily separate, it gives them the chance to ease into the idea of separation emotionally. I can't see being more specific until it looks like we would be separating permanently. Just what would work for us.

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Tom:<P>On the whole I agree with what you are saying about telling your children, but I would suggest emphasizing that any separation (if it comes to that) is not their fault. Kids (even the most mature of them) often get the idea that they are the cause of their parents' problems, and I think you should try very hard to help them realize that's not the case.<P>Of course, the best way is to keep on Plan A-ing as long as you can! I know it's easier said than done, but I think it would be much easier to constantly and gently let your wife know that you really are the man of her dreams if you're around all the time and don't have to go out of your way to see her.<P>Good luck in making your decisions, Tom! --HBC


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