No words of wisdom, just wanted to say your descriptions of what you are going through with your kids have made me redouble my efforts not to have to tell our kids the same if I can possibly help it.
This! Except that's why my H bailed now - because he'd rather do this when our kids are 1 and NOT EVEN BORN than ten years from now. Like it makes a damn difference in the end.
Don't be too concerned about that DMK. I know it hurts, and it is frustrating. My W said the same thing - She doesn't wan't to hurt the kids when they are older and they are really used to having a family, so she thinks we should break it off now while they are still young.
Crazy I know, but it is all part of the script. Your H is looking for any rationalization he can hold onto to justify running now.
Me 42, W 39, S8, S6, S2 M 11y, A & ILYBNILWY 11/08 Walking away from a bad situation.