hello there
I have been where you are--only I left and went back soo many times in 7 and a half yrs. I can't keep up the count. Don't do like I did--my children---all steps to him---still are paying for it today and they are all now in their late 20's---take it from one who has been there----get into a women's abuse support group--read every single thing you can get your hands on about abuse/living after abuse---Ginny NiCarthy, a well-known author comes to mind--do whatever you can to make life better for you--I can't tell ya what to do, but the pain is there forever---either in you, or your kids, down-the-road. Another book comes to mind--I have read tons of them
"Why do I feel I am nothing without a man"
BTW
I finally got out of my abusive marriage after divorcing/remarrying him TWICE----then God brot an angel into my life, and we have had nearly 14 yrs. of wonderful peaceful loving contented marriage and he treats me like I am precious!!! See what I would have missed if I had kept leavin' and goin' back!!!! Call an abuse shelter---they are there 24/7---I lived in several--later--yrs; later, I worked at one---life is way too short to be miserable and hurting!!! Never forget that!!! theoann