Do you think a child two almost 3 understand that mommy and daddy are no longer together? Then he stays with daddy and goes to mommys house Tuesday Wednesday and comes home late Thursday…I tell him we are going to stay at mommy he will get his bag
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Yes they do. They can be as young as babies and tell that something is different and off when they split.
They understand something is different, but unless you make a big deal out of it then they will adjust pretty quickly and not know any different. Children are very resilient and adapt quickly.
He will do fine …kids are resilient. Hopefully you and the ex are on the same page and it’s amicable…
It took awhile but my daughter did. Once she realized he was gone her temperament changed, slept better & stopped asking for him. But she didn’t go back & fourth. He’d come over when he felt like it until he lost total interest. I think going back & fourth can be confusing. Hopefully he’ll stay consistent & keep other things how they’ve always been (bedtime, meals, disipline etc).
My bonus babies will say they don’t have a dad and their other house. They know my husband and his ex aren’t together but as long as everyone can co parent I don’t think it causes any long term issues. Be ready for questions when they are older though.
Yes kids are like sponges they take notes till they understand the full term of what has changed
Yes and it is a terrible thing to happen to a child at any age
How the kid deals with it depends on the parents 100%, if you make it normal, don’t talk crap and keep things positive, he won’t know things were supposed to be any different
I got divorced when my kids were almost 4 and 1 year old. The 4 year old knew mommy and daddy don’t live together anymore and she’d get excited for a sleepover with daddy. She understood that we both loved her but didn’t love each other anymore. She also understood very quickly that mommy was a lot happier because there was no more fighting. They grew up this way and never had a problem until he stopped seeing them for awhile when they were 8 and 5…then all heck broke loose!
I think they do realize that something is different and that mom and dad aren’t both there. With time they will adapt and that will be the only thing they know. Remember kids are tough and resilient. Try to maintain a good age appropriate dialogue with them and they will be fine. Hang in there momma 
My daughter understands completely that her father and I are no longer together. We live together at the moment (I tried coparenting with him to no avail), but she knows that I am with someone else. She just turned three
It’s beyound their comprehension at such a young age. My oldest child was only 3 when her dad and I divorced and it was a struggle for her mostly because she didn’t understand why she only got to see mommy and daddy at separate times and not together. Everything changed for her and as it was hard for me to move out and get my own place, it was just as hard for her. Her routine changed so much. I don’t think she actually understood what had happened until she was about 5-6 years old.
It depends on if they remember a time when mom and dad lived together. It might just seem normal to them to have mommy’s house, and daddy’s house. The important thing is that everyone can get along and be civil, even when they’re no longer in a relationship.
Absolutely. Kids are FAR smarter than we give them credit for.
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Children sense emotion. They want a set routine too. Don’t let them feel or hear you speaking against each other and give them unconditional love. Don’t let them sense guilt. As they grow and ask questions give brief honest responses.
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My son used to cry at night because he missed his daddy… he was 2 at the time and would cry when I would go to take him home from dads they definitely understand
Yes definitely. As a mom of 3, teacher and bonus mom yes they definitely know
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Yes they do. Very perceptive munchkins.
100% yes. Some underestimate kids and just think “they really dont know”. Believe me, they watch your every move and can fell when you’re not yourself or if stuff has changed.
I got divorced when my kids were 5 and 8. The 5 year old didn’t really understand any why, she just knew it was what it was. She adapted very easily as small children do.
Absolutely. I had my 2year old ask me why daddy hated us as I was driving. Broke my heart.
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I was 3 when my parents told me they were getting divorced and I 100% understood what that meant. Didn’t understand how it was going to truly affect me until it became the new normal though…
My parents separated when i was somewhere between 3 and 5. It became normal really quick. Kids are very resilient.
Kids feel tension and love. They understand a lot we don’t give them credit for.
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No but it’ll be a norm as it’ll become routine and that’s all they care about. Also having two parents that love him. They don’t understand things like that really till they are about 4/5
My son was 2 & has no memories of us together so it was a norm for him as he got older I put him in therapy to help
My kid did/does she was three on the nose when we separated.
When they are so young often its their normal because its just the way it is.
My son is almost 3 and sees his father every other weekend. I feel so sorry for him and feel awful about all the emotions he has to deal with because mama and papa are no longer together.
He leaves his mummy to see daddy, its not nice. On the one hand hes so happy and other hand hes sad.
However he was asked by his half brothers if he loved mama or papa and he was smart enough to say “I love mama, and I love papa”
So yeah, i dont think they “understand” but i do think they “feel”
At age 3 is when they start forming permanent memories. Despite the split be amicable, love your child unconditionally and NEVER EVER speak negatively about one another unless its telling the truth to them when theyre older
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Yes he will understand but providing he feels secure in both homes and hand overs are always dealt with in a positive manner he will be fine.
Kids are smarter than you think. They might not understand why mommy and daddy dont live together but they know that things are different and mommy and daddy are in different places all the time. Some kids take the change very hard but they will adapt. My ex used to leave for weeks at a time. It’s been that way since they were babies but when they were toddlers it’d upset them very much. I had to put one in my bed. She wouldnt sleep unless I was holding her all night. There’s also a way to explain to them why you arent together. Just because they’re kids doesnt mean they dont deserve some sort of explanation for why their life changed.
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I’m sure he does if he’s staying at two different places
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Yes they do in their limited ways… They’re used to seeing both parents in the home and suddenly there’s only one…!! Been there done that…
It will be they way they always remember it. When he gets a little older he will have questions but will be far more settled if there is no drama and you guys are honest and kind.