Of course your wife begged and pleaded for you to not take him because then everyone would find out that she's a horrible abusive monster. Does she abuse other people or just her family? If she isn't getting angry at strangers and punching them then obviously she can control herself because she only chooses to beat the people in her family, the ones that will hide her abuse and protect her from any possible consequences. You chose to protect your abusive wife over your helpless children that rely on you to protect them. They do not have the ability to get up and move themselves. They need you to do it for them. If you're scared of your wife lying, don't tell her you're leaving. Call a shelter, get into contact with a social worker, and find out what resources you do have. Yes there aren't as many out there for men, but there aren't none. Record every argument and abuse then. Take photos of bruises and scratches and items she breaks. Honestly, if you don't protect your kids, who the fuck will? Surely not the woman who beats them. And if you don't protect your kids now, odds are they are going to grow up and never speak to you again because you had the power to do something, and instead of protecting them you sat around making excuses for why they should just deal with the abuse. A father protects his kids, and right now those kids have no one to protect them. You'd rather make sure your wife can keep beating them than to get them the medical attention they need because of your wife beating them. Makes me sick. Those poor kids shouldn't have to grow up being beaten and living in fear. They're going to need fuck tons of therapy when they can finally escape you and your miserable wife.