Tell Me About It: Before ending her marriage, wife has to find herself

Question: I have been unhappy in my marriage for a long time. So long, in fact, that it started long before it became a marriage. I always had an excuse for putting off ending the relationship. In the beginning it was "I'll wait until after the summer"; "OK, now I'll wait until after the holidays" - etc., etc. Then it was "I can't do it now, the wedding is already being planned; I can't disappoint family and friends." Eight years, two children, and a major home renovation later, we are still married.

He's aware that I'm not happy, but I'm sure he doesn't believe I would ever actually leave. Our kids are amazing - I don't regret anything because I can't imagine my life without being mom to these children, who are 2 and 5.

We recently renovated our home and now live in our dream home, in which he put a lot of his own blood, sweat, and tears.

We have done some counseling; however, I feel I am at a point where I am not interested in fixing the marriage and trying to stay together. I know I don't want to be married to him anymore but, logistically, I don't know how I would act on this.

I worry about the effect on our kids - though I can't imagine the constant tension and almost daily bitter, nasty arguments are having any positive impact. We all love our house, neighborhood, etc., and I do not want to lose it and have to move into an apartment. We are also in a great school district in which my older child just started kindergarten.

I work part time and don't make enough money to live on my own.

These are the things that are keeping me from taking action.

How do people do this? The logistics of going through a divorce seem like enough to make one stay in a miserable marriage.

Answer: So many years of so many decisions undermining your own well-being - and of bringing others aboard in the process. I would want to get to the bottom of that before I made any more decisions, especially as big and consequential a decision as dissolving a family.

You say "we" have tried counseling, but you don't say you have gone, solo. Please do, to figure out what drove you to keep postponing tough consequences and to build a life on excuse after excuse.

At some point you might still need to find a lawyer, a better job, and a new home, but, first things first: Find you.

I also urge you to find, in the meantime, a way to stop the "bitter, nasty arguments," especially in front of the kids. You may be finished with your marriage, but your kids are just starting to learn from you how to handle emotions, how to solve problems, how to treat others, how to trust. Please start choosing your words with an eye to what lesson your response is going to teach.

That might just seem like one more thing to worry about, but I'd argue that in such rough waters as yours, it serves as a basic, steady course.

Chat with Carolyn Hax online at noon Fridays at www.washingtonpost.com.