I am sorry. It can’t be easy. Honestly abuse is good enough reason to end everything the first time it happens as abuse always escalates. If you are afraid of his reaction to your announcement, I recommend you get your ducks in a row first and don’t announce too early. Prepare yourself first

How does someone not work for 7 years. Wow. Must be nice. It’s quite mind boggling how on Earth some people live like this. Not only they depend on others but don’t they know if they don’t work and don’t pay income tax, they’d have no social security? Let alone retirement savings? Who does he expect will feed him when he is old? You? Kids? Government? We, working taxpayers, will pay for him through welfare system? Unbelievable

I reread your post, if you are afraid to say it to him, file for divorce first, make plans re living arrangements etc I normally don’t advice to just go for it BUT if you are afraid, your safety comes first

I understand not wanting to divorce with kids in tow. But sadly kids growing up witnessing this will make the same choices: bad partners, bad marriages or perhaps no ability to find healthy partners at all. It’s just how it works. They learn from what they see. And if that’s what they see, that’s the kind of life they’ll know. It’s not too late now. He obviously is and will be their father and hopefully he’ll be a decent dad regardless but you aren’t obligated to endure abuse