Need opinions- how to handle explaining a breakup to a 2 year old

My BIL and his girlfriend have been together for about 4 and a half years. They are a huge part of my boys' lives (2.5 and 10 months). We see them all the time, and they LOVE our boys and are SO good to them and the boys absolutely adore them. Over the past couple days, it has started to look they may be heading towards breaking up. I am heartbroken just thinking about it- I love them both. My concern is- how do I handle this with our 2.5 year old? He is very precocious, very well spoken, and observant. He always puts people together in his head. He will definitely notice if she is not around anymore, and he will ask for her. How would you handle this? Tell him right away, explain in language he can comprehend? Not mention anything unless he asks? I'm not sure what to do. I'm still really hoping and that they work through it and stay together, but I want to be prepared in case they don't. Thoughts? TIA.

Re: Need opinions- how to handle explaining a breakup to a 2 year old

I would be prepared for the question if uncle X is not with GF will you and daddy not be together too. Sorry. I would have BIL address it with your kids too, that he is there for them, he loves them, and he is not leaving them too.

Need opinions- how to handle explaining a breakup to a 2 year old

If he asks, I would tell him the truth, "Uncle so and his girlfriend decided to stop being friends" and you can give him a reason like she moved far away. If he was older you might be able to explain the concept of bf/gf and breaking up but I don't know if he would understand that at his age.