When they're 4, they start asking all kinds of questions. I think this is one of those times where you just need to talk. Not sit down and "have a serious talk about love, relationships and marriage", but talk through the teachable moments.
Just the other day, my ds (6) asked me about a friend's father. That question led to a discussion about adoption, as his friend was adopted from another country by a single woman (which they are very open about). My ds thought his dad was always at work and I explained that he doesn't have a dad at home and explained biological parents vs adoptive parents and how some kids find a different "forever family" than their birth family. I then reminded him that all families look different and some families have only a dad or only a mom, or even just a grandparent. He turned to me and said "And some families have two mommies and some families have two daddies and some families have a mommy and a daddy" with a big smile on his face. That was a good mommy moment for me, family is love, even when it looks different from someone else's.
We have talked about divorce in the same way when it has come up. This is what it is and what was right for their family. That is not right for our family, mommy and daddy are happier being married. Positive and straight forward and then move on.
ETA: There is a couple of episodes in the Little Bear series that have a pair of skunks meet, fall in love and they have a wedding. It's on the "Little Bear's Band" dvd and is very sweet.
Edited by liamsmom - 6/5/12 at 4:07pm
