Regarding your original post, I find nothing wrong with telling them a simplified version of the truth. I have a 10 and 8 year old and they have both known about my mental illness for a couple years now. They don't totally understand it, but they know enough to realize that my mood states and ****** behavior isn't because of them. They can understand that I have an illness that affects me that has nothing to do with the way they behave or with how much I love and care for them.