How to tell 6 year old his father is going to rehab for 6 months?

Question

I was thinking of just telling him that daddy's sick and has to stay somewhere for a while, but I'm not sure he'll understand, and he's too young to know the truth...

Answer 1

agree with first poster, jen. don't lie. say hes sick and will go away for a while to get well. period.  

Answer 2

I don't think you need to explain anything like that.  You could just say he's away on business or something like that.  If you say he's sick you might scare your child.  good luck

Answer 3

answer his questions but don't elaborate

Answer 4

You would be very surprised at to what your 6 year old really understands. I've been through this, and I tried telling my daughter that her father was working on a big project and would be gone for a little while.

My daughters response was how could daddy work on such a big project when he's always so sick?

So that's when I sat her down an told her the truth, without mentioning drugs exactly, and she was more relieved knowing that when her daddy did come back, he was going to be okay again.

Without having to tell her, she knew something was wrong with her daddy and it wasn't some job. She knew her father was sick. The only thing she didn't understand was that it was drugs that made her daddy sick. By the time she was 9, that's when she realized that it was drugs that made him sick, and also knew what drugs were. Her father never stopped.

My daughter died a year ago, and her father still didn't stop using drugs, and the younger children resent him for it. I think it was harder continueing to allow him to be around the little bit he was, then it was to explain to my then 6 year old, why her father was going into rehab.

Our children are not stupid. Dont ever let anyone ever tell you that they wouldn't understand, because our children understand and know alot more than what they should and what we give them credit for. They just might not be able to explain it, but they still know.

Answer 5

Someone i know is going through something similar.

They told the kids that daddy was going to work out of town for a little while.

Answer 6

Or you could say that daddy has to go on a trip for work and will be home  in a few months. Might get worried if you say daddy is sick.

Answer 7

Tell him just that. Tell him he´s dad is sick and has to be away for a couple of months till he gets better. He is too young to understand but you can´t explain to him about drugs or alcohol. Once he gets older you´ll be able to level with him. For now just say that because it´s the only reasonable excuse.