I'm wondering if anyone can help me by sharing their experience with explaining poly to their children?
Our sweet ones are 7 and 10, and it feels like it may be time to have a discussion with my 10 year old daughter. My husband's partner has recently moved away, but mine is still very much in our lives. To them, he is my 'bestie' since I have known him since I was 8 years old, and has been in their lives for 2.5 years. We have never been affectionate in front of them (other than kisses and hugs hello and goodbye), so I suspect they don't already know?
I would be heartbroken if the littles ever thought we were lying to them, and how that may affect their views on trust and love. I'm also feeling like it will be way worse if the reality is presented to my daughter by one of her friends or if she happens upon it in another way.
If anyone has experience with this, I would love your thoughts. What did you say? How did your child respond? Do you feel like there is an age-appropriate time, and if so when? How much detail do I need to give (ie. they know I 'love' him, but do I need to say that we kiss sometimes too so she gets the picture that he is more to me than just family?)? Should my husband and I do it together, so she sees we are united and there is no deception? Do I do it alone since it's a special 'girl-talk'?
Gawd, clearly, I may be overthinking this, but it feels monumental.
Our sweet ones are 7 and 10, and it feels like it may be time to have a discussion with my 10 year old daughter. My husband's partner has recently moved away, but mine is still very much in our lives. To them, he is my 'bestie' since I have known him since I was 8 years old, and has been in their lives for 2.5 years. We have never been affectionate in front of them (other than kisses and hugs hello and goodbye), so I suspect they don't already know?
I would be heartbroken if the littles ever thought we were lying to them, and how that may affect their views on trust and love. I'm also feeling like it will be way worse if the reality is presented to my daughter by one of her friends or if she happens upon it in another way.
If anyone has experience with this, I would love your thoughts. What did you say? How did your child respond? Do you feel like there is an age-appropriate time, and if so when? How much detail do I need to give (ie. they know I 'love' him, but do I need to say that we kiss sometimes too so she gets the picture that he is more to me than just family?)? Should my husband and I do it together, so she sees we are united and there is no deception? Do I do it alone since it's a special 'girl-talk'?
Gawd, clearly, I may be overthinking this, but it feels monumental.