Metropol

I figured you gents and ladies were the best people to come to at the moment, as you're arguably the most learned people I know (well, know in a wider sense).

They had a blazing row on Thursday night, since then dad has hardly been able to concentrate on work. Therefore he's got a suitcase down from the loft tonight and said he's going to spend some time away. I asked how long is some time and he said he didn't know. It feels like it's been coming for months now but this is it.

My younger sister (11) doesn't know what's going on because she's so fucking happy in her own little bubble. Trying to explain to her dad is having to go away for a while whilst realising that this could mean the end of my family is hard.

Anybody got anything I can do, say or think of?

Plus any thoughts on break-ups in general.

Just tell her the truth as you see it. she's alot sharper to what's going on in the family than you give her credit for. Her la la land is her way of ignoring it. See what she has to say about it first!

It could all turn out to be cool in the end. my parents nearly split when my brother and i were young. I think we we really began to test their patience.

My parents split when I was about 11 and I really can't say it bothered me. Of course I knew what was going on, I didn't need telling. But I was having my own problems at high school which sent me into my own little world, so I don't think I had time to worry about what my parents were doing. They had a tough job dealing with the split and worrying about my schooling as well.

I can't really give any advice because I was the only child and I just had to deal with it whether I liked it or not. It certainly wasn't the end of my family, though.

My niece has also gone through a similar change in her life with her parents breaking up. She has had to deal with it at a much younger age, and she has dealt with it. Your sister may well be stronger and wiser than you think. I hope your parents will be equally as grown up about it.