Hi C.,
I am sure you are a good mommy to your precious children! I am so sorry that your BF made such a bad decision...
PLEASE, I would STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to GO to the court to get child support and custody for you in regards to your children. I know you said that you already filed for assistance and child support. Is this with the county/ state?
I would also encourage you to DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. If you need to present information before the Judge they want stats and details from you. Times, dates, places, types of communication. If he is not wanting to see the kids now, and changes his mind later when he has to pay support, it's important for the courts to see his motivation (money or kids).
There is an agency I used awhile back called CHRYSALIS. It is FREE for women. They have a ton of programs and classes- and they typically offer childcare at their main sites. They are VERY kind as well. Lots of names for referrals if you need anything too. (I took classes from them and also obtained the name of a GOOD attorney from them- Brian Clausen, off of Enegry Park Drive by Bandana Square. Good man, honest, ethical, effecient, and will be an advocate for women and their children.)
Chrysalis also provides a class called Sandcastles (I think that's the name of it)- it talks about divorce and the separation. Even though you were never technically married, you basically lived as if you were married and the separation for you and your children places you in the same situation as divorcing. If that isn't appropriate for them, they would probably have other ideas of books, classes, help for talking with them. They are really good at helping women and their children. It's empowering, not suppressing or oppressing.
It's so important to actually verbalize to your children that it is NOT their fault:
Exlain without details that their Daddy has been making some bad choices and that his choices are NOT THEIR FAULT. That he is responsible for his own choices, just as they are responsible for their little choices. But that their Dad's choices are NOT their fault and that they did not do anything to deserve being sad or hurt.
Acknowledge their feelings:
Tell them that you are so sorry that they are feeling sad, angry, frustrated, scared, abandoned, etc. (they are feeling it, just like you... They just need to know that YOU understand them and how they are feeling- or else they will act it out in other ways.) If they are feeling a certain way, try to help them to make appropriate choices in HOW to express it- safely.
None of this is about badmouthing your ex because he is still their dad and always will be. However, it is about explaining good/ bad choices to them and the importance of feelings. You seem like a smart mommy. They just need to know that you know how/ what they are feeling. They need to know it's NOT their fault. They need to hear and know that they are good children. They need to know that YOU are not going to abandon them.
Are there other significant people in their lives who can be a support to them and you?
If you need anything, please email me.
Again, I am so sorry that you are walking through this greif and rejection. His choices are just bad. Unfortunately, he will probably do the same thing to the other woman as well...
You are in my prayers.
Blessings to you and your precious babies,
G. H.