Broke up with boyfriend because it was going nowhere

We both love each other but it's not enough. Relationship hasn't been moving forward, and we barely have been spending quality time together. We are both at different speeds on the same page. We both want the same thing (living together and marriage) but our relationship has taken a back seat to his focus on his kids, kids I haven't met, so probably best we end things now.

We've been bickering at things. Communication has been off. Everything has been out of sync. I can't even remember the last time we went out on a date; probably Valentine's Day.

I wanted it to work out, but do I keep waiting, keep being patient, and for how long for things to get back to being in sync or better? Part of me wanted to, part of me can't. We've been together for 1.5 years. Doesn't that mean anything?

I say we just put this on pause while he figures it out with his kids. He says "we're 80% there. we just get through this 20% crisis part". He's been struggling to balance co-parenting, and I think I'm just not step-mom material (my words, not his).

He knows I'm unhappy. I'm not unhappy with him. I'm unhappy we aren't finding some middle ground. He's been back and forth personally (not with us) but within himself, adjusting to a new lifestyle for him and his kids.

It's hard. I'm so heartbroken by this even though I know it's probably for the best right now.