Please note the general disclaimer that answers are only individuals' opinions. To my way of thinking you have a serious decision to make, and it has the potential to change your entire world. By the sound of it your husband is some kind of power freak. He is domineering and can only feel powerful by constantly putting you down. He will continue to do this until you are a complete wreck - a shadow of a person. Your choice is simple: either you get out, you and your children, and start a new life where you are least empowered, or you put up with this treatment and let your children see this as the way to behave in a relationship. Both ways are hard, but I think that doing nothing seems easier while actually being harder on both you and your children, affecting their lives as well, and maybe their children, etc. In my opinion you must get out and away from him before things get worse (and they will). I don't know if he abuses you physically, but if not yet I think it will come as yet another way to put you in your place and allow him to feel stronger. If you actually mean something to him then he will get the psychiatric help he needs before trying to win you back.

A husband that loves his wife and children would not do this. Has he always done this? This is terrible. I think he may be so scared to loose you that he is trying to destroy your self image so you will stay. Don't let him win. Their is nothing worse for him to be doing to you. He might as well be beating you with all the abuse he is giving you. Something is seriously wrong with him and this is not a healthy relationship. If you can manage to leave and provide for your kids do so now. If you can't for some reason do some serious thinking about getting out of this. I know you must love him for you to still be there but you must at some point start to think of you and the kids. If the kids see this can you imagine what they are going through. I am not judging you I hope you don't feel like I am. I know it is a hard position that you are in and I hate to see any one being done that way. So if my answer seems hard for you please forgive me. Good Luck.