I read his words as manipulation and self-centeredness, sweetteewalls.
If he wants to be the center of the universe and the one with the Major Childhood Wounding, let him do it in a counselor's office and not with the woman he has regularly abused.
How many ongoing days have YOU "cried regularly?"
I have seen this tactic before in alcoholics (men who batter their wives also use it), and it works every time to keep people off their backs and excusing their resistance to treatment and accountability.
The only childhood that matters in your family's life is that of your children.
I think he he is very devious and I would not give him five minutes of your listening time.
Stay angry. That is the normal emotion when one is being abused and when one witnesses a grown man put himself ahead of his children, thus abusing them.
Stay angry. You'll be able to do what needs to be done.