Thinking of you. I don't know what to say. My situation is so different than yours and yet if my exH would only say those things,
he wants to love you unconditionally, you deserve to be loved, he won't quit on you, the past is behind him and only viewed as a series of bad decisions/choices, etc
I think I would really want him to say those things. But I am not you...
I agree it is not about the kids, they can't be the primary reason you reconcile. It has to be a genuine coming-together of you and him. But for a side benefit, and a HUGE one, it is like you said to your own H, you guys can be the example to your children of a truly loving and forgiving couple committed to each other.