My oldest knows about my injury, my youngest is too young to even speak yet. What I meant by protecting them is not allowing the full brunt of the miserable times on their shoulders. I don't think being miserable to a child really helps them, so from that perspective we try and keep a happy house. Even through the hard times. I didn't really see the point is saying to my oldest, "well mummy has to have a major operation on her brain, and she may not survive" what I did say is that mummy had a bump on the head, and we need your help to get her better. He was good with that version.