I stayed for two reasons. One, I thought I was doing the right thing for my children. Two, I come from a family who just don't divorce. No matter what. It's just not done.
While that sounds crazy, that is just the way it is. Eventually, I got enough help from the fine folks here at SR, through counseling, and through Celebrate Recovery to realize I deserve more, and namely, so do my children. While I cannot take away their pain, they are with me 95% of the time. During that time, I can make life as good as I possibly can for them.
Had I stayed with their father, we would all still be miserable.