It was no laughing matter when comedian Tom Arnold recently revealed that he and his wife, Ashley Groussman, have split up after more than nine years of marriage. But Tom, 59, exclusively told Closer Weekly — in the magazine’s latest issue, on newsstands now! — that he has no regrets.

“I have my children because of my wife,” Tom said of son Jax, 5, and daughter Quinn, 3. “We’re doing this as a team. I told the kids, “Mom’s going to have a new place that’s going to be cool, and we’re going to sell this place and you guys can pick a new place, so we’ll have two places.”

Tom said the divorce was “a long time coming.” And he doesn’t blame anyone for it. “I kept saying [to Ashley], ‘You’ve been amazing. There doesn’t have to be a reason. There doesn’t have to be a bad guy. We have these children,'” he told Closer.

Now he’s looking to the future. “My kids and I have a whole, wonderful life together,” Tom said. “I’m sure things will be better now. It’s a learning process. My kids are amazing. They’re smarter and better than me or my wife. When it all calms down, everything’s going to be fine.”

For more on Tom Arnold, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now — and be sure to sign up for our newsletter for more exclusive news!