When would it be appropriate to explain to my kids the abuse I experienced from their dad?

Pretty much what the title says. My boys are 11 & 12. Their father lost visitation a year ago because he was violent and abusive to them. I broke up with him when they kids were a year old and an infant. The kids have chosen not to see their father anymore and now they’re asking a lot of questions about our relationship. They know he wasn’t around for the first 5-6 years. He’s told them stories that I didn’t clean their butts when they were babies and left them dirty and with rashes, which is untrue because he wasn’t even around at the time! My oldest has asked specifically if he’s hit me, if he was alive when he hit me, was he mean to him as a baby, did he hit me in front of him ever, etc etc. All the answers are yes, yes, yes, and YES. I want to tell them more information and they are eager to know but they’re still young. I just want to know if it is even appropriate to tell them. Or what is even appropriate to tell them at this age. They want nothing to do with him anymore and never want to see him again, although we know he will likely take me back to court again. I want to tell them so badly and they want to know. Obviously the sick details will be left out of it, but when is it okay to give them an overall understanding? via /r/Parenting https://ift.tt/3jWUi0K