MY WIFE cheats constantly, and we have two little girls. I am a good man who made the grave mistake of helping a woman, and I am now cornered by our children. My wife is shallow and superficial. Relationship Advice – This Week’s ColumnI stay with her for fear of losing my two daughters to her and having her wreck them. I do my best to keep the girls in daycare, in courses, and with relatives as often as possible. I don’t want them picking up on her ‘characteristics’ like she did from her mother. Her mother had thirteen kids from different dads. In our five-year marriage, I’ve held her hand through two abortions from other men.

I also make my wife work, even though most of the money goes to partying, so at least she has some exposure to life and improves as a person. I supported her through two years of college, and would like her to go back for more. She improved significantly in every way by going to school, but I don’t think it is enough.

My concern is she will be a financial and emotional drain on my children when they are older. I have gotten her into a few counselling sessions, but she just lies through them. She now refuses to go at all to counselling.

I don’t confront her with cheating anymore, because she becomes violent and tears apart the house. If I phone the police, she pretends I am abusing her while I have done nothing but offer her support. I try to be the ‘rock to stand on’ that would save her and my children, but I am worn, tired, and lonely.

What is the best age for my kids to be when I divorce her? How do I prepare my children for the inevitable divorce? Am I asking the right questions?