Schwarzenegger Children Tweet Reaction to Dad's Fathering Kid With Former Household Staffer

May 17, 2011— -- Two of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger's children took to the Internet this afternoon with reaction to their dad's admission that he fathered a child with one of their household staff members and hid the secret for 10 years, shattering their 25-year marriage.

"I love my family till death do us apart," Patrick Arnold Schwarzenegger, 17, tweeted.

He also quoted lyrics to a song by hip-hop group Fort Minor that read "some days you want to quit and just be normal for a bit."

Big sister Katherine Eunice Schwarzenegger, 21, also tweeted (as KSchwarzenegger), "This is definitely not easy but I appreciate your love and support as i begin to heal and move forward in life. I will always love my family!"

They are two of the four kids that Shriver and Schwarznegger have together.

Earlier, Shriver appealed for compassion and privacy in breaking her silence on her estranged husband's admission.

"This is a painful and heartbreaking time," Shriver said in a statement. "As a mother, my concern is for the children. I ask for compassion, respect and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal. I will have no further comment."

The Los Angeles Times reported overnight that the former California governor admitted to Shriver that he'd fathered a child with the woman, who had worked for the family for 20 years.

Schwarzenegger's admission to fathering a child with a household staff member resulted in his separation from wife Shriver, 55, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"After leaving the governor's office, I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Schwarzenegger, 63, said in a statement. "I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry."

The couple's son, Patrick Schwarzenegger, 17, tweeted about his family this afternoon, saying, "I love my family till death do us apart."

He also quoted lyrics to a song by hip-hop group Fort Minor that read "some days you want to quit and just be normal for a bit."

Patrick is one of four kids that Shriver and Schwarznegger have together.

Schwarzenegger was harboring the love-child secret when he ran for governor of California in 2003. Unaware of the affair, Shriver, part of the Kennedy political dynasty, gave a pivotal speech defending her husband against allegations that he groped a woman.

The woman with whom Schwarzenegger reportedly fathered the child worked for the family until January of this year, the Los Angeles Times reported. A source told the Times that Schwarzenegger continues to provide for the child financially.

The ex-staffer, who is not named in the Times story to protect her privacy, said she "left on good terms with them."

The mother of Schwarzenegger's love child initially denied the affair to the Times, saying her ex-husband was the father. But, when the Times contacted her after Schwarzenegger's admission, she declined to comment, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Shriver has moved out of the couple's Brentwood, Calif., home. Last week, the couple announced their split in a joint statement.

The news comes as the couple publicly announced in a joint statement last week that they were separating after 25 years of marriage.

Schwarzenegger asked for the media to "respect my wife and children through this extremely difficult time," according to the statement to issued to the Times. "While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not. "

In last week's statement, the couple said they mutually came to the decision to separate while they live apart and "decide on the future of their relationship."

"This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us. After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion, and prayer, we came to this decision together," Shriver and Schwarzenegger said in the May 9 statement.