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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Has anyone got through an affair and stayed together ?

175 replies

jimmijam · 07/09/2014 20:17

Just wondering, I know couples who've survived and those who haven't.

Was it a full on affair or one off?
How long have you been together (so far) since? And are you happy in that relationship?

Or , did you try & it didn't work ? Why didn't it work?

Thankyou
X

OP posts:
siblingrevelryagain · 09/09/2014 17:15

"Why give someone a second bullet after they missed first time"?"

Jan45 · 09/09/2014 17:18

What a load of bollocks, people say LTB not because they are vile and vindictive but because they are in fact remote from the poster, uninvolved and are offering probably the only unbiased viewpoint.

I don't see a person as weak or strong whatever their decision is, it's an individual choice, not a universal rule that we all do the same thing but don't kid yourself, a cheating partner is exactly what they are and always will be, putting it behind you doesn't change that. I don't believe any woman deep down would ever say, well I deserved it, or, I understand why he did it - really? A man, just like a woman is in full control of their genitals, it's a choice, a choice to cheat, simple as that, staying together won't change what they did.

LTB = find someone who can be trusted and loves you 100%, not half in and half out.

JonesTheSteam · 09/09/2014 17:21

Jan45.

Where did I call anyone vile and vindictive?

Jan45 · 09/09/2014 17:23

Funnily enough DH was like you. Affairs are deal breakers.

So he'd have left you if you'd gone elsewhere?

Jones, I am not flaming you for staying, your choice, but there is no way on earth you will ever have 100% trust in him ever again - you might have 97 or 98 but it's impossible to have 100 unless you are completely in denial.

He may indeed regain your trust in years to come, personally I couldn't be arsed giving someone years to prove themselves to me when they'd already fucked the relationship - nothing to do with love, you can still love and not trust someone - that for me would be enough to move on and find a man that I could feel relaxed and not worry about what he was getting up to, tbh, I love myself more than any man and would prefer to go it alone.

Jan45 · 09/09/2014 17:24

Jones, I didn't say you did, your post comes across as though anyone who says LTB has some kind of ulterior motive or are ill informed, we're not, we're unbiased and uninvolved therefore the least people to dish out ill advice.

Badvoc123 · 09/09/2014 17:24

It's just no way to live, is it? :(

JonesTheSteam · 09/09/2014 17:29

I didn't say they were ill informed either.

I just said that when someone posts that they want to try and make it work there is generally a lack of support.

Jan45 · 09/09/2014 17:33

This: And yet on here people just yell LTB, are generally scornful of those who choose to stay. To the point where a lot of posters chose not to comment on my thread, but to PM with their stories, as they knew they would be faced with derision.

Well yes there is a lack of support because nobody is going to encourage you to stay with a man that does this sort of thing - simple as that, how you interpret it and personalise it, is your problem I'm afraid.

FelicityGubbins · 09/09/2014 17:36

Marriages can survive affairs, but you will end up a hardened battle scarred veteran, some people find their husband/wife are worth it and will stay, some won't, if my husband cheated I would be devastated but in truth would divorce him for it, I know it would hurt like hell, but I know myself and I know I would make his life a living hell for it because I'm a grudge bearer by nature, it's not worth the anguish that it would put me, my children, and ultimately him through.
If I wasn't me, and had a different personality then it might well be different, but I'm not..so it wouldn't be...

BloodontheTracks · 09/09/2014 17:37

I think there's a couple of issues here.

First thing to say is that I'm so glad things are going so well for you, Jones. Sometimes an affair really does leave an improved relationship there in the long run and is a wake up call.

The first thing to say is that there are complicated reasons for Mumsnetters asking wronged spouses to doubt what they are being told or to consider leaving, and it not always about wanting them to 'LTB'. Strength is required for any course of action, frankly.

I think Jones story is brilliant and instructive. If you look at her thread, her husband behaved in exactly the way that a cheater should and does if they really really want to save their marriage.
Sometimes this doesn't happen and it makes it hard to know what to advise someone to do.

Sites like www.affairrecovery.com (which exclusively tries to help people STAY TOGETHER after an affair) cite that the most common regret of someone who has been cheated on when they look back is believing everything they were told initially and accepting immediately that they wanted it to work out. (This is by people who DID work it out, by the way, so it's not about regretting staying.) We have an honesty bias, particularly towards people we love, and a fear of change. When we want to hear something we try really hard to hear it.

However the truth is that most people who have affairs minimize the extend of what they did and how they felt about the other person (NOT ALL, MOST). This is to preserve the view of themselves but also not to hurt their spouse, who they may well love more. This CAN mean a very damaging months/years afterwards where the betrayed spouse discovers things that don't fit with the story they were told, or even when the cheater stays in touch with the lover, or carries on seeing them, because they feel such guilt about hurting them too. This makes it HARDER for a marriage to survive in the long-term than if the truth is forced out and insisted upon at the time, even when everything inside is telling you that they have chosen you and to brush it under the carpet. This is sometimes why posters question and push OPs to realize the extent of the infidelity acted against them, not to hurt them, but to make it possible for a marriage to survive and find a new honesty and intimacy, rather than continuing to hide behind deception.

As for the leaving part, well, that's the other major regret. Often those who've been wronged regret not forcing the cheater into a position where they really had to realize what they'd lost. And then the return back into the relationship is something the cheater has to 'fight for', and see objectively for what it is, not just an easy 'status quo'. It is likely, JOnes, that your husband knew you would leave if unsatisfied, that he respected and feared your reasonable response to his actions. Some partners quietly doubt their partners WOULD leave. And so they do not offer the apology and behavior that would allow the betrayed to recover. Because they don't need or want to. It's incredibly selfish but sometimes only their own loss is what motivates selfish people.

The betrayed spouse if often best served by realising that they ARE capable of being alone, that actually that would be okay, and so they, equally, made an active DECISION out of love and choice, to re-commit to the relationship, not one born of fear or ambivalence. Both the actions of questioning the truth of what you're being told, and imagining and experience life alone are ESSENTIAL for SOME people to actually re-commit to their marriage meaningfully. Rather than leave it.

I am not a LTBer at all. I want marriages to survive affairs if that's what both partners want. But I do encourage questioning and detached independence, because having been on both sides of an affair, they are the only things that worked for/on me, as the betrayed AND as the cheater.

SlicedAndDiced · 09/09/2014 17:39

No, just no way.

I've been cheated on before. I'm sorry you just can't love someone enough if you can single handedly lie to them whilst ejaculating inside someone else. If the relationship, if you, weren't enough for them before what has changed?

Nothing. My ex was the most romantic he'd ever been when I found out, he'd do all these things blah blah. And he probably would have.

But deep down I would always know it was just because he didn't want to give up his cooked meals, cleaner, laundry maid. He didn't want to have to start all over again with a woman he couldn't fart infront of. He couldn't be asked.

That was all.

One of my friends has just taken back her husband after he'd had a sexual affair. She keeps putting on facebook how much they love each other and how wonderful everything is now.

I was sat next to another friend when she was reading that. She said 'yeah shame he was balls deep in ow two months ago ay'

I never want to be 'that' woman. No one will ever say anything to her face. But no one outside of the marriage will ever see it as a real one again.

JonesTheSteam · 09/09/2014 17:41

Thank you BloodontheTracks.

Your posts are always balanced and well considered.

I'm hiding this thread now, before Jan45 puts any more words in my mouth, as I never accused anyone of being vile,vindictive or ill-informed...

Jan45 · 09/09/2014 17:43

I've been cheated on before. I'm sorry you just can't love someone enough if you can single handedly lie to them whilst ejaculating inside someone else. If the relationship, if you, weren't enough for them before what has changed?

I'd like to know what has changed too, other than their dirty secret coming out and mayhem ensuing whilst they desperately try to hold on to the status quo and all that has been comfortable for them.

Jan45 · 09/09/2014 17:44

I'm hiding this thread now, before Jan45 puts any more words in my mouth, as I never accused anyone of being vile,vindictive or ill-informed...

I never once said you did say any of those things, it's me saying them, hands flapping here - me, me, me!!!!!

It's a shame you find it so difficult to accept other people's standards - perhaps that's more to do with you being truthful to yourself about how you really feel towards your OH.

MajesticWhine · 09/09/2014 17:44

I can offer a slightly different perspective. I had an affair. It was not found out and it ended. Then some years and a couple of DC later, DH had an affair. It was relatively easy to forgive him and try and repair the damage, because I was guilty too. I then told him about my affair, and although his affair hurt me greatly, my history gave me the impetus to forgive him, so we could both move on. I made a mistake, and I know that I wouldn't do it again. However, I don't know for sure that he wouldn't do it again. So I agree with those that say you cannot get 100% trust back. On mumsnet threads these things are usually black and white, but I wonder how many people, in real life, with this dilemma of a cheating partner, have made mistakes of their own?

Another observation is that there are major cultural / family / religious influences in the choices that people make about staying or leaving. For example, you may have had it drummed into you that marriage is for life and anything else is sin (for example), or that you must work at it, come what may. In many cultures there is great shame in divorce. In this case, however much sense it makes to LTB and move on, and however much you have your own different beliefs on the subject, that is a pretty difficult thing to do against the full force of that family, cultural or religious influence.

JonesTheSteam · 09/09/2014 17:46

I would reply, Jan45, to show you how my DH has changed, but you would only make up things I haven't said... Wink

Jan45 · 09/09/2014 17:47

Aye, ok then....Confused

SlicedAndDiced · 09/09/2014 17:50

I have no doubt my ex would have changed, most likely permanently.

But he wouldn't have changed because he didn't want to lose me, if that was such an overwhelming fear of his he wouldn't have pulled his dick out of his pants in the first place.

He just didn't want to lose what I represented to him. Home, family, status, comfort. He would have had to actually work to get all that with a new woman, with me he would have had it ready made.

Anotherchapter · 09/09/2014 17:57

But luckily my wife was tolerant enough to realise mistakes can be made but can also be overcome

What a twatty line Hmm

Lucky for who? It wasn't your bloody wife! I don't think you have took any accountability in your whole post- what a catch!

JonesTheSteam · 09/09/2014 18:02

Truthfully I love my DH.

I know he is a good man, who did something hugely out of character, and is truly, truly sorry.

Do I trust him 100%? Have I forgiven him completely? Of course not.

I happily accept other people's viewpoints.

But a lot of people don't accept that not all men cheat again, aren't serial philanderers, don't all follow the script and are truly remorseful.

I have a friend who has been an OW and also cheated on her husband.

You know what, she is still an amazing, lovely, kind person; the kind of person who answers the phone to a friend sobbing at midnight because her DH has had an affair.

She made bad choices. Doesn't mean she'll do it again...

BloodontheTracks · 09/09/2014 18:18

I agree, Jones. I would NEVER do it again. Having an affair was by far the most awful experience of my life. It was so painful and I was afraid all the time. Of course, the pain I caused others was the worst thing but I just couldn't go through that again myself, either.

Badvoc123 · 09/09/2014 18:48

Lots of "I's" in that post blood....

Badvoc123 · 09/09/2014 18:48

I really hope it works out for you op.

SlicedAndDiced · 09/09/2014 18:54

I'm not sure it's about being a good or a bad person.

There are good and bad people. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is capable of having an affair.

The point is if the relationship means a lot to you, if you love and like your partner and never want to be without them, then you won't cheat. You just won't risk it.

But if you are in a relationship where one party, if they were being honest, would say you were just wandering along, staying together more out of a sense of

'oh well we've been together years, we are comfortable and familiar now, not really massively doing it for me anymore, but it's pleasant and I'm scared of trying again with someone new or having to put all that effort in again' then cheating is bound to happen.

jimmijam · 09/09/2014 19:13

#blood# wow, thankyou!!
I'm finding it particularly interesting hearing views from those who have been the cheater.
#jones# how can I find your thread please?

At the moment it feels a lot like a new relationship, but with memories good & bad, & 3 dcs, which is strange.

But we never used condoms before (I've got implant and an on the pill), I'm now using them with him (a girl has needs to. :-) ) Sti checks all came back fine. It's almost like a barrier between me and her. (They literally used nothing, any time ). Does that sound odd ? It's working for me.

What does ldt or whatever the acronym is that keeps being used here, mean?

OP posts: