Posts tagged ‘Cheating’

October 5, 2009

What am I supposed to do if I meet the man who cheated with my wife….

by Rod Smith

“What am I supposed to do if I ever have to meet the person my wife cheated on me with? How should I treat him and let him know I disapprove of his ‘taking my wife from me’ and that he is not, and never will be my two children’s father, but that I am ‘not out for blood’ in vengeance against him?”

Offer grace

Offer grace

If this man and your ex-wife marry he will be very much a part of your children’s lives as a co-parent (but not their father) whether you like it or not. So he must hear from you: not the angry you, but the “best” you. A carefully planned, well-timed, one-on-one meeting is essential. [Take someone with you – preferably a professional – if it will help you get it accomplished.]

That your wife cheated reflects thoroughly on your wife’s character for it takes two to tangle (have conflict) but only one to cheat. That he too is a cheat (she did not cheat alone) means that it is up to you, for the children’s sake, to take the high road. Therefore I challenge you to do your part to reduce your children’s anxieties (they are not immune to the destructiveness of their mother’s actions) by NOT making this man or your ex-wife your enemy.

The situation you face goes to the heart of what it means to be a man. Can you rise up and do what is right and good and healthy for your children when others are choosing not to do so? Call me. I’d love to talk – these are “primordial” issues and ought not be faced alone.

February 26, 2008

Affair still niggles at me….

by Rod Smith

“I cannot seem to break free of the memories I have when my wife was unfaithful to me. We have talked about it constantly and I have forgiven her and she has forgiven me for my anger. Yet, although it was quite a few years ago, it still niggles at me. Please help.”

Sometimes you have to let things go.
I know someone’s going to send me an aggressive letter letting me I don’t understand and that it is not that easy to forget and so forth, but since you have both expressed sorrow, and each has offered forgiveness, and since much time has passed, and since the clock cannot be turned back – it is time to let it go!

It might be helpful to consider your wife’s unfaithfulness, not as something directed at you, but something she chose to do to herself. When a partner blames him or herself for the unfaithfulness of the spouse, this is not only harder to overcome, but grossly inaccurate thinking.

No matter what the circumstances, the one who chooses to be unfaithful is the one who must assume the responsibility for the unfaithfulness. No matter what the greater issues are in the marriage, cheating will not be a helpful option.