When we sat our two children down to tell them we were going to separate, my 13-yr-old son asked me, "You both have always been like this (distant and unhappy), so what changed?" I said, there was a time when we were happier but the fact that he hasn't seen that side of his parents says how long it's been since those happy days.

Children are more perceptive than we give them credit for. But yes, they keenly observe the couples around them too. My kids are yet to identify a "happy" couple they know. My son says he is not interested in getting married and having kids. I don't blame him.