The truth is always better than a lie. Your kids are all old enough to handle it. You pretending just to appease her and save her face is some BS in my opinion.
M: 40 W: 37 T: 20 MR: 13 S13, S9, S4 BD: 1/29/18 Sep: 4/23/18 (I moved out) 8/24/18 I come home, she moves out
If you want to get out of the hole, drop the shovel.