Hiding a layoff from the family, bad idea? - 8 months and counting

I have been leaving the house at the same time each day so my kids do not notice. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. Bills are coming up and I cannot keep this quiet. How did you handle it?

I told my partner the same evening with a simple plan: what happened, what I was doing and what I needed. It was a relief.