what to tell the kids

[SirPrizeMe]

I would suggest more along the lines of

"your dad is moving out."

"We are still married. We think we need some time apart for now."

Try to present a unified front. I know you feel like telling them "your dad wants to move away" but in the chance that he comes back later, you don't want to have poisoned their feelings for him, as if he is abandoning them.

This is a tough thing for kids but don't treat them like invalids. Empathize with them. They will have to confront the uncertainty of the situation. "I don't know when he is coming back, and I know that's hard to understand. But I just don't know. I know I want him back."

They won't understand it. You can say "I'm not really sure how it happened either".

They won't like it. you can say "Yes, I can see you don't like it. I don't like it either." etc. empathize.