If you got into a relationship, fell in love, enough to marry & decide to have children, there was obviously some good things and a desire to make a future together... Things do change over time, everyone continues to change till the day they are planted into the soil so we have to adapt and change together as well...
IF the spouse was worth it at the start it is worth trying to fix it before jumping into a separation / divorce... remember that anything worthwhile, it is worth working on & fighting for. Try to get counselling (don't see a "Social Engineering" type with pie in the sky fantasy ideas) and try to work it out...
MAIN POINT - both have faults & both have issues (hence conflict) and that results in jabs & barbs towards the other which can escalate... If you or the other says "it's your fault, your problem" then you BOTH have a problem.. it is always a two way street, even if you can't / won't see it. Stupid things like "roll the toothpaste or squeeze it", OR, "putting toilet paper roll on backwards" cause arguments or hard feelings, there is something bigger underneath, that is just surface angst at the bigger issue...
Exceptions:
Physical Violence = get out to safety for you & kids (regardless which adult is the abuser, get kids away from that !)
Alcohol & Drugs being brought in and abused which leads to confrontation - GET OUT as that will only escalate to worse things... That needs solving and then counselling may save. YES people can sober up, clean up and fix themselves but THEY must decide to do it for themselves with incentive : IE hit bottom by losing family or whatever... different for diff folks.
General Abuse (verbal, mental, psychological) can be as damaging if not more (worse over time) can be solved with counselling and corrected - find the underlying why of it... IF this has been protracted long enough, it may be irreconcilable so separation is the logical step.
IF your instinct is to run away and avoid conflict, avoid trying to fix it because you feel it's hopeless, or you have made several mental "break points" that will prevent you from taking corrective action... you have already surrendered and best to go. Life is NOT "Instant Rice" where people want it right away, no hassles and not willing to wait 20 minutes for the traditional healthier rice (ie takes time effort to make)...
Everything is now essentially "disposable" and "swappable" as the general societal mentality has evolved... sadly people also do that with relationships far too easily & to the benefit of lawyers who make it all acrimonious for more profits...
MOST IMPORTANTLY... Regardless of where you go and what you do, the children and their long term wellbeing is the most important point. Bad separations and messy divorces only hurt the kids and does scar them (perceptions and feelings) forever.... Remember to put the kids First & Foremost and respect THEIR RIGHTS before yours or spouses "feelings"... the kids have a right to BOTH parents equally & fairly without acrimony or hostility... Only if they are at risk of "real, not imagined" harm should they be restricted from access to the other parent. Never allow the kids to be used as a weapon or as leverage, that is not their place to be and does a LOT of harm to them.
A thought to ponder on... All kids know they are 50% mom & 50% dad... If mom hates dad and bashes him all the time, the kids will take that as mom hates that 50% part of them... VISA VERSA as well... Kids will not identify it that way BUT it does indeed affect their own feelings of self worth and value and affects how they will relate to both parents...
Sorry if I prattled on but I worked as a Child & Family Advocate, for several years, helping families to stay together and fight against bad Child Protection / Children's Aids cases (far too many of those happening every day)... I have unfortunately seen a lot of damage to kids for no good reason.
EDIT PS:
I should point out something often never even considered but which should be...
Often some undiagnosed medical / psychiatric conditions can affect a persons behaviours in very negative ways. IE: an undiagnosed Epileptic person (does not mean they have Grand Mal Seizures) who may be taking anti-depressants or other mind / mental altering substances can have extreme side effects... Also people with undiagnosed Diabetes can have sever mood swings and mental / attitude issues when their sugars are screwy... CASE IN POINT my Ex was undiagnosed epileptic and when they gave her anti-depressants she became erratic & violent towards the kids & I and even attempted to stab her own mom on one occasion... wasn't until after her arrest for cold cocking a Police Sgt and subsequent testing that a Psychiatrist evaluating her saw her have a seizure & finally figured it out AFTER THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE... The combo of epilepsy, anti-depressants & (unknown to me at that time till after her arrest) her use of crack cocaine made for a most toxic and nasty mess.
Before giving up and running, try and determine if there is something else going on if at all possible... Life is not a Disposable Bic Lighter.