Not sure how to handle this?!?!?

Not good, and what a shock to you. That being said, if this is the 1st time in 11 years, is there something else going on in your lives that could have him just spoiling for a fight? Like anything out of the ordinary? It might just be a one time thing but of course you have lost all trust in him by now. And you're right, you don't want your kids to see that. I presume you don't want to get police involved at this stage.

But secretly you must know what the fight was about...

My sister and I grew up watching my dad beat my mom. I hated him for it and I saw my mother as weak for not leaving him. As a child, the anger and hatred I felt for my dad and the guilt I felt for being too scared to step in and help my mom was over whelming. I became suicidal at 7 yrs old. I wanted her to leave him but she didn't until I was 12. Their violet fights happened maybe 2 or 3 times a year, at least that I was aware of. Every time he beat her, he would buy her something, be all romantic for a while, and swear it would never happen again. Of course, he would do it again.

The effects on a child growing up in an abusive home (even if they are not the ones being abused) is detrimental on their self esteem and the types of relationships they will have when they are older. I became prone to violence and I wouldn't let myself trust men (until I after I married my husband who I knew since childhood). My sister on the other hand, was more prone to being abused.

If he does it once, he will do it again. For the sake of your children, you should leave him.

Don't stay with him. It's a very unhealthy and stressful environment. Your children don't need to see any of this, I know.

You would be smart to leave.