Marriage... as interpreted by my children!

Over the last few weeks we've had some conversations about being married and what that means, and also what getting 'unmarried' involves. My kids come out with some interesting questions and equally interesting (and highly amusing) answers! This first conversation took place in the car when we were coming home from the gym one afternoon. I'm not sure what sparked it, but it was about their recently separated Uncle & Aunty.

Miss 7 - I wonder where T & A live now
Me - well they don't live together anymore remember?
M7 - oh yeah, cos they decided not to be married anymore... how do you get unmarried?
Me - well... (had to think of an age appropriate way to explain it that wouldn't involve a series of further questions!) you go to the court and you sign a piece of paper....
M7 - but you can't get unmarried if you're married!! (She was quite angry and insistent on this point)
Mr 5 - yes you can! You just take off your ring then you're not married anymore!

Well I'm glad they cleared that up for me. Here I was thinking it was a highly complex process, and all I had to do was take my ring off!

There were a few more questions - "are you and daddy unmarried?" "did you break up?" "is daddy still our daddy?" and then it was on to a different topic. 

But again today, the question of getting "unmarried" came up. Again in the car, on the way home from they gym.... hmmm, sensing a theme here.... anyway, Miss 7 again...

"when you get unmarried, can you get married again"
Me - yeah you can if you want to 
M7 - so you could get married again? Cos you and daddy broke up so you're not married anymore...
Me - yeah, I could get married again... do you think I should?
M7 - so if you get married again, does that mean we get a new dad?
Me - uumm, I guess so... (not really sure where this is going...) 
M7 - ok then, you should get married again so we can get a new dad!! 

So apparently getting married again and getting a new dad is just like getting a new pet.... you just decide you want one and go get it! Part of me is concerned that she thinks it's like that... you don't just 'get a new dad'. But they didn't just lose their dad in a normal sense either. They know he made some bad choices and he can't live with us anymore, so I guess to them he is gone for good. And at this point in time, realistically, he is. 

Most of me is actually really proud of this progress in her emotional state though. To understand that daddy won't be coming back, and that she's ok with that enough to ask for a new dad... that's a pretty massive leap! However, I'm worried that when I do introduce a new man to them, the first thing she'll ask is "are you our new dad".... that's just how my girl rolls, straight to the point! 

So if anyone needs to rehome a husband/dad, we're looking  ;)