Hi Gents, Im 42 years old, it's Tuesday 12:31 am as I'm writing this and by the end of the week I will of told my two young sons, 7 and 8, that I'll be leaving home. It's absolutely devastating me. My dad left home when I was around 5 years old. I don't remember the event but it had a life long affect on me.

My now ex an I have tried desperately in vain, for the past 5 years or more, to avoid this, but it's just too far gone. We've slept in separate rooms for last year and just recently she's had a drunken one night stand. Done.

We're both from broken families. We probably stayed together too long because of this to protect the kids. A debatable mistake. The coldness and arguments in the house are too much now and must be affecting the boys.

We're attempting to stay amicable. As long as it's affordable, I've agreed she can stay in the house with the boys for at least until they finish primary school (5 years).

I'm cracking up a bit as leaving my family, as was my childhood experience, is literally reliving my worst nightmare.

I feel so guilty failing my boys.

I have friends who have been super supportive throughout this, but no one fully understands how much this hurts me. They never had the same experience.

Has anyone out there been through a similar story? Is there any advice you can give? I'm struggling with how I'm going to do this fellas.

Thanks.