People drink for all sorts of reasons. It doesn't do any good to try to figure out why someone else drinks. All you need to worry about is whether or not living in that situation is detrimental to you and your children. Fear of the unknown is not a good reason, IMO. You have no reason to feel guilty. You removed yourself and your children from a volatile situation. Perhaps a visit with an attorney can help you make well-informed decisions about the future of you and your children.