Can you save a very broken relationship?

[Isitvintage]

I think what I really want to know is if it’s ever worth saving a relationship that you know is dead in the water.

I hear from friends/people that will break up with their partners or husbands, get back together. Only to break up years later and wish that they had taken the first break up as an official end to the relationship,

Obviously it is harder if kids are involved, marriage or other commitments like maybe shared businesses and homes.

I was betrayed by my partner who I have a 3 year old with. He had a double life. I’ve been doing alright alone, but I’m so sad that my child is in a single parent household. And whilst I want to just move on with my life, I wonder if I would ever try to make things work for the sake of being a family, or if it’s best to just move on.

Think I want stories more than advice. Maybe I’m just having a low day and I’ve been around a lot of couples and newborns lately.

Maybe it’s a sign that, in time, when you’ve healed from this, you could find a new partner who treats you right.

You deserve better than a man who cheated on you. You won't be single forever and there are decent men out there so don't settle for anything less. You can't salvage a relationship with someone you can't trust.

No. He doesn’t deserve you. As PP said, stay free of him and use it to learn what you won’t tolerate in future, should you want to find a decent partner.

Ex can be a good dad to your DC without you having to suffer him as a cheating partner. I’m sure you’ll tell us that he isn’t, but he could be.

If you both are 100% to try to work things out, focussed on not making the same mistakes and genuinely want it, yes, you can. I have known someone who's DH had an affair - some 20 years later they are very happy. I didnt know them at the time but they seem to have put it behind them

I don't think you can, no. I was married for 30 years. I knew it was crap within 10 years, at 15 years I had a meaningless fling, at 22 years I asked him to move out. I regretted it so much at the time and begged him to come back. He lasted 8 years and then he divorced me. I wish I'd had the guts to break up the marriage when I was young enough to make a new life. I am now mid 60s and have only regrets and painful memories.