Once upon a time, in a small town, there was a happy, smiling 4-year-old girl. One day, Mommy and Daddy told her they had something important to tell her.

Mommy began softly, “My darling, you know how much Mommy and Daddy love you, don’t you?”

“To the moon!” the little girl replied, spreading her arms as wide as she could.

Daddy smiled, then continued, “That’s right. And we’ll always love you just as much. However, Mommy and Daddy have decided not to live together anymore. We’re each going to have our own house.”

The little girl looked at her parents, a little confused. “But why? Don’t you love each other anymore?”

The parents looked at each other, then the mom replied, “Dad and I love each other, but differently now. We love more as friends than as a couple, than as lovers you know. And sometimes, even when two people love each other as friends, they need to live apart to be happier.”

“Is it my fault?” she asked next, a hint of concern in her little voice.

“Oh, no, darling,” Dad replied quickly, “It’s absolutely not your fault. These are grown-up decisions and have nothing to do with you, Mum and Dad simply aren’t in love anymore. And you know, you’re our darling little girl and you always will be.
“

Then she asked, “Will I see you both?”

“Yes, of course,” Mom replied, “You’ll spend time with Dad and with me. We’ll always be a part of your life, we promise. You’ll be able to see us whenever you want.”

“And will I have two bedrooms?” she asked with a hint of curiosity.

“Yes, you’ll have one at Dad’s and one at Mom’s,” Dad replied, “You’ll be able to have toys and clothes in each house, and we’ll make each house a special place for you.”

After hearing her parents’ explanation, the little girl thought for a moment. Then she asked, “Will I have to choose between the two of you?”

“Oh, no, darling,” replied the mom gently. “You’ll never have to choose. Mommy and Daddy both love you very much, and you’ll spend time with each of us.”

“Does that mean I’ll have two Christmases, two birthdays?” she asked next, trying to figure out what this new situation meant for her.

Dad smiled and said, “In a way, yes. You’ll have special times with Mom and special times with Dad. So you’ll have lots of presents! But we’ll also make sure we have moments when the three of us are together, for special occasions.”

Then the little girl asked with a touch of concern, “Are you two going to disagree again and always bicker now?”

“No, darling,” mom replied. “Daddy and I have decided to live separately precisely so we won’t bicker so much anymore. We want you to be in a calm, loving environment. And we’re going to work together to make that happen.”

Finally, she asked, “Will you always love me so much?”

“Daddy and I will always love you this much, no matter where we live,” Mom replied. “And we’ll always be there for you, no matter what.”

“And that’s a promise,” Dad added, taking the little girl in his arms.

With these answers, the little girl began to understand that, although things would change, her parents’ love for her would remain the same.

After asking all her questions and receiving her parents’ answers, the little girl thought for a while longer. Then a bright smile appeared on her face. She looked at her parents and said: “So, even if things change, we’ll always be a family, a different family. I love you both, to the moon and to the universe!”

And so the conversation continued, the parents gently explaining to their little girl what their life would be like from now on. They reassured her of their unconditional love for her, and how they would always remain a team to her, even if they lived in different houses.