Thank you for the support when I posted a few months back. I literally was in such a bad place I couldn't answer.
It's been 5 months now and still tough. Ex has opted out of parenting except for 2 nights a fortnight with my small kids. My 13 yr old daughter won't go to him at all. He is now with his 4th woman a 26 year old and apparently madly in love he says.
The lawyer said to hold on to managing finances as he hasn't suggested different and he really only seems to buy booze and cigarettes. Frequently stinks of alcohol when I see him. This makes me so grateful I no longer have to deal with all the lies and the control the amount of alcohol. So so so glad I would never take him back.
I'm still healing and wondering if I will ever meet anyone else as all I do is work and parent 3 kids. It's so so hard! And he just goes out and apparently has such a great relationship with this girl. I feel it looks like it was my fault as I'm still single. I know it's not true but still.
I'm so much stronger anyways