DP (should actually be XDP) is looking for a house so will be living here for a few months until he finds somewhere.

DD1 (aged 5) has just started school and I was dreading telling her. DP told her (whole other story) on his own which I wasn't happy about but he said all the right things so I can't be too cross about it. I had a chat with her the following morning and she seems to have totally taken it in her stride.

We have both explained that: dad will still live close by (in the same town), she will see him every day either before school or after school, she will have sleepovers at dad's house on the weekends but will sleep at mum's house every school night and every few weeks she will spend the whole weekend at dad's.

Her response both times has been, "I like that idea."

Yesterday, I thought I would further test the waters and we drove past a few houses that are for sale and I asked her what she thought of them. She was very excited and pointed out the one that she liked best.

Am I deluding myself that this may not be as traumatic for her as I thought or have other kids taken it in their stride? She even yelled out to a friend in Coles yesterday, "my daddy's moving out". Bit embarrassing but she was very cheery about it.

Haven't told DD2 (aged 2) just yet as I don't think she will necessarily understand the abstract concept of dad moving somewhere else but I'm planning on explaining more when we've found somewhere for DP to live.