Dealing with questions about their 'other' dad.

[Richie]

I have two step children under eight. their biological father died when they were small and I have been in their lives for (in their perception) pretty much forever. We've never hidden the fact that I married their mother after they were born but recently the elder child has become curious. I am struggling to know how much I should tell a seven year old boy about it all.

 

[noahsdad]

I think at 7 they are able to understand that people pass away. They don't need to know the details surrounding the death. My 4 year old understands that his grandparents are in heaven, but we haven't gotten to the why in that category yet.

 

[greatdad]

I think answering the questions honestly without giving the child more than a 7-year-old can handle is the best approach. His questions will indicate how much you should tell him.

 

[Jack]

The first thing that comes to mind is trying to remember what it was like to be seven years old. That would be the key I think, is to put in seven-year-old terms.