The exiles proposed that they get rid of the foriegn wifes and children. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women. Now THAT would be hard to do. Imagine having to get rid of your family. Imagine your husband all of a sudden saying you and the kids have to leave. that would be hard for everybody.