I've posted before, starting in January, about making the decision to end my marriage and then at intervals about living with the consequences of having made that decision. It has been a very tough seven months of continuing to share the same house (and bed for the first six weeks) and not being 'allowed' to tell the children what was going on. He wouldn't accept that I wanted to end it and told me he would defend a divorce and put every obstacle in my path that he could.
Last month he finally agreed to mediation and we had our final appointment yesterday. He has offered me enough money to buy a house for me and the girls although I'll have to top it up with a mortgage. It's not everything I'm entitled to, but I need to get out and this makes it possible. I'll argue about the rest later when I have my own home and the strength to insist on my entitlement.
Thanks, MNers, for being there for me, and I hope that anyone who is facing the end of their marriage/relationship in similar circumstances can see that there is a future after you make that most difficult decision, although sometimes you need to be very patient and persistent.