Staying together for the kids

[TopperHarley]

Please tell me it's a bad idea.

Been together 6 years, 2dc. I want out due to his history of cheating. I don't trust him and our relationship has completely broken down. We're not close, we're not affectionate, we both feel unappreciated. However we get on fine, no arguments (mostly because I've completely emotionally detached from him), no bad atmosphere in the house etc. He keeps telling me I will struggle on my own, won't be able to afford a nice house (like we have now), finances will definitely be hard. He's also not happy but thinks we should sacrifice our personal happiness in order to provide a nice environment for our kids. They both seem happy. There's no bad atmosphere in the house. My heart hurts at the thought of being in a house without my kids because they are at their dads, having to explain to them why mum and dad live in different houses etc. But I'm never going to be happy with him, I know that.

Should I stay or should I go?

There is always highs and lows in any relationship. I am very happily married for 25 years but I did leave at the beginning, he was not abusive but treated me like a piece of furniture, the best thing I ever did as he turned the way he saw me round. Staying in a relationship with someone who has trapped you is not a good idea as they will never respect you, you are an object who cleans and looks after his children. Whatever you decide is not going to be easy. You get one life which flies by, one morning you wake up and your middle aged and your youth has gone, your children have grown up and the main person in your life is your partner, you want that person to love and respect you.