Learning to Trust Myself

[Burgbud]

And I'm not nearly as free as I thought I would be, as he wields this great new power over me.

Take it back from him. Become stronger. Set and enforce boundaries.

Indeed. The children are from both of you; how is it he has power but you do not? Is it because he's willing to "wield" the power but you put the children first?

Those kids are a great reason not to just kick him to the curb without going the distance to salvage your M. But they're just as great a reason not to subjugate yourself to a lot of his behavior that you've had to deal with so far.