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Would you forgive a cheater?

When I discovered my husband was having an affair, I was devastated ... but perhaps oddly my initial reaction was to fix it (we had two youngish kids at the time). It took me many months to realize that we were not going to be able to get over a long-term affair. A one-night stand? Maybe. A year-plus affair? Not so much.

Now that former New York Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer and former NY congressman Anthony Weiner are ready to get back in politics, I have to wonder how "bad" affairs (or sexting; are those even "affairs"?) are. What would you forgive and what would you want to be forgiven for?

Re: Would you forgive a cheater?

  • Well, I think there is a difference between forgiving and staying in the marriage.  Would I forgive my husband, yes I would think so, but I don't think I would stay in the marriage.  My trust would be broken and I know myself well enough that I couldn't live the rest of my life wondering if it would happen again.   The anxiety would make me miserable.   I just believe that I could forgive someone, but there would still be consequences for their bad decision. 

  • My persona opinion is Weiner was set up.

    Somebody wasn't happy with him. And who really cares what he was doing with his personal life --- is it any of our business what he does with who, behind a closed door? None of our business at all.

    Once a cheater, always a cheater. Show the bum the door and that's that.
  • Mrs.H.Mrs.H. member
    Ancient Membership 2500 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker

    I would not forgive a cheater.  There are no 2nd chances.  DH knows my position on this. 

    If my DH wants out, then get out....but don't go checking out to see if the grass is greener first.  Get out and then graze.

  • It would depend on the situation. I was ready to forgive my first husband and work on it if he wanted to. He did not. I don't know if I could forgive DH if he did it, just because we have both been cheated on in the past and we have talked about how we would never do that to each other.
  • I forgave my DH for having a one-night stand. It was the hardest thing we have had to overcome in our relationship. We separated for a while right after I found out, but we knew we still wanted to be together in the long run. That is what marriage is- sticking it out through the good and bad. It's been two years now, and although it still pops into my head from time to time, I love DH very much and know he loves and respects me too.

    If it happened again, I would not forgive again. If it had been a full-blown affair, I would not have forgiven.

    image
  • vpinevpine member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments 5 Love Its

    I don't care if politicians cheat or sext because it does not affect me personally. I don't think Clinton's affair changed the fact that he's considered an awesome president.

     I haven't been in the situation and don't have children yet so right now I can say I wouldn't forgive infidelity and would divorce. 1 night stand is different than year-plus affair but I still think marriage is ruined regardless.

  • A year long affair would be cause for divorce and would take a long time to forgive.

    A one night stand I would stay in the marriage, but it would take some time to forgive. We would both have to agree to some marriage counseling, and be fully devoted to each other and our marriage.

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  • I think that what many of the politicians (who get caught in affairs) shows a lack of judgement.  

    I don't care if a politician is faithful to their spouse - that is none of my business -- but when they are committing crimes while doing it (engaging the services of a prostitute) or sending pictures of their private parts out to the internet (something that most people know is a risky thing to do), that is just stupidity!  

    I object to stupid politicians.

    As for my partner, that is something we would have to examine on a case by case basis. 

  • GilliCGilliC member
    Ancient Membership 5000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer

    If the person was truly remorseful and willing to work on the problems with the relationship that led to the infidelity, then yes, I would forgive him/her and stay in the relationship unless/until there were other reasons to leave. 

    imageTarponMonoxide:
    Once a cheater, always a cheater.
    I think this is generalizing BS (but of course, that's how you roll).
    image
  • Absolutely NOT! I am still disgusted at my ex husband's behavior! IMO nothing warrents cheating especially when you're married.
  • DLB&MRBDLB&MRB member
    10 Comments
    edited November 2013

    I take a marriage very serious.. However, we are all human and we make mistakes. But my H and I have been through alot BUT he knows where I stand when it comes to our marriage. You should forgive a person but a year long affair while married that would cause us to DIVORCE because you are worth more than that. It is hard when children are involved but those children won't keep a man. (Not trying to be mean).. Forgive but try to move on. I have been cheated on before and Lord knows it hurt so much...I wouldn't wish that on anyone.. But I will say just pray about it and put it God's hands.

     

    xoxoxo

     
  • Sometimes I wonder what went through my mom's head when she found out back in the day.  My dad cheated on my mom for the better part of a year and asked her to do other things (my sister, who was in high school at the time, found a journal my mom had been keeping with proof of the affair and other stuff and sent me a copy when I was in college).  They're still together...but sometimes I wonder why.  Before I got married, my mom implied that she stayed with my dad for my sister & I and for financial reasons.  I know they've tried to work on their relationship, but I know (because I've asked) that my mom now has trust issues with my dad.  Whenever I visit them, they hardly talk with my dad staying in his "Man Cave" in the basement.

    DH and I have had MANY discussions on this, with me using my parents as my viewpoint and him using his dad (who was married 3 times and cheated on his first wife).  We don't believe marriage is disposable and we knew that it always needs work.  Granted, we won't always be happy, but we can't imagine what would lead us to believe cheating is ok. 

    I wish you the best of luck, OP.  And since you posted that back in July, any updates?
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  • I wouldn't forgive an affair, a one night stand, sexting, webcam stuff, or anything like that.  And if I somehow did forgive it, I wouldn't stay with him.
    image
  • What makes a one night stand more forgivable? IMO, that would be more likely to be repeated since it shows a clearer lack of morals. I wouldn't forgive any form of cheating personally, but I'm wondering about some of the PPs thought processes here.
  • lisa2008boolisa2008boo member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments Name Dropper 5 Love Its
    edited November 2013
    If it was the first and only time yes I would want to forgive and work hard on my marriage. I don't believe in running away at the first sign of trouble. It would be hard but I would want to try. Especially if both parties are open to professional help and want to work on it.. Now if it became a behavior issue and it was happening over and over I would have to walk away. Infidelity is a valid excuse for divorce in my opinion. 
    Anniversary
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  • Cheating is a major deal breaker for me.  I have had these talks with my H even before we got married.  This is definitely something I would not stay for.    I know me and I just could not feel the same way knowing he had done something with someone else.  We both agree on this.  Even talked and said if we ever start having any sorts of feelings or anything pushing you towards another to talk about it.  I would rather get hurt for a period of time and work on this together befoere it happens than after the fact..

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  • I cannot forgive. That ability is totally broken in me. So no, perhaps I would want to forgive but I know I could not. I wouldn't stay in the marriage and it would take me years upon years only to cope with the reality of it.
  • There is no forgiving an affair. Nope, nada, never. 1 night, 5 weeks, 6 months, 1 year.  They are all the same to me. He cheats... he leaves. 

    I just don't understand the whole well if its only once, if he promises me it wont happen again, I take marriage seriously crap.  HE took a vow and was supposed to take it seriously, HE broke it, He loses!

    Yes, everyone makes mistakes. but not everyone dick falls out of their pants into another woman....a bit more than a mistake in my eyes. A mistake is forgetting to do the laundry...forgetting to call...missing a birthday...having sex with someone else isn't a mistake...it is a character flaw!



  • catsareniice1catsareniice1 member
    Ninth Anniversary 2500 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited November 2013

    People referring to cheating or even one night stand as mistakes is, to me, so out there! Think about it - clothes do not just fall off. Usually there is flirting, kissing and foreplay that precedes cheating.

    Cheating disgusts me not just because I was cheated on. I've always found cheating at any capacity unacceptable and unforgiveable. I would never cheat on anyone no mater what the circumstance.

    I was dating a douche of a man was hit on on more than one occasion by a guy I had a MAJOR crush on and did nothing. Cheating is a shitty thing to do and extremely selfish. Cheating is a character flaw! Period!

  • I don't consider anything short of outright abuse a deal breaker.  I feel even more strongly about that now that I have a kid.  Leaving my marriage would effect not just me and my H, but my kid.  Soon to be kids.  I can't say one way or the other what I'd do.  It would depend on what happened, how I found out, if he was willing to work on it etc.  I know I'd try like hell to fix it before I'd uproot my kid and walk out though.
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  • lisa2008boolisa2008boo member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments Name Dropper 5 Love Its
    edited November 2013

    There is no forgiving an affair. Nope, nada, never. 1 night, 5 weeks, 6 months, 1 year.  They are all the same to me. He cheats... he leaves. 

    I just don't understand the whole well if its only once, if he promises me it wont happen again, I take marriage seriously crap.  HE took a vow and was supposed to take it seriously, HE broke it, He loses!

    Yes, everyone makes mistakes. but not everyone dick falls out of their pants into another woman....a bit more than a mistake in my eyes. A mistake is forgetting to do the laundry...forgetting to call...missing a birthday...having sex with someone else isn't a mistake...it is a character flaw!

     I get what you are saying but haven't we all made bad choice haven't we all done things to hurt our spouse? There are things just as bad as heating and if those can be forgiven why can't a person who cheats one time feels horrible and wants to fix their marriage not be forgiven?

    You can believe it or not but I know couples that have been through an affair they worked their butts off on their marriage and are still together many years later happier and stronger than they were before. All marriages are tested some are in different way we all fail our spouses at some point some in different ways. In my opinion it is all about how we pick ourselves up. 

    There is a huge difference between someone making a mistake one time and someone who does it over and over again. Did you ever smoke pot as a teenager? Many have done it one time I wouldn't call them a drug addict. Many have had a one night stand as a teen or in college I would't call them a whore. If a person cheats one time I don't think it is engrained in their blood many of us make these one time mistakes and learn a big time lesson from it. 

    Anniversary
    "A women who can kneel before the Lord can stand up to anything"
  •  
     
     I get what you are saying but haven't we all made bad choice haven't we all done things to hurt our spouse? There are things just as bad as heating and if those can be forgiven why can't a person who cheats one time feels horrible and wants to fix their marriage not be forgiven?

    You can believe it or not but I know couples that have been through an affair they worked their butts off on their marriage and are still together many years later happier and stronger than they were before. All marriages are tested some are in different way we all fail our spouses at some point some in different ways. In my opinion it is all about how we pick ourselves up. 

    There is a huge difference between someone making a mistake one time and someone who does it over and over again. Did you ever smoke pot as a teenager? Many have done it one time I wouldn't call them a drug addict. Many have had a one night stand as a teen or in college I would't call them a whore. If a person cheats one time I don't think it is engrained in their blood many of us make these one time mistakes and learn a big time lesson from it. 

    I got you.  I though, know myself.  I know I would not be able to get over if he ever cheated on me.  I can't forgive and forget.  I really wish I could more, but its just not me.  Some couples do get thru this and I too have heard that it somehow strengthened their marriage.  I would not be able to trust him again.  But again, we are all different

    Oh and those things you said, a girl having sex or smoking pot as a TEENAGER!  Exactly!  That is what you were, was a YOUNG TEENAGER.  Not a married adult who made promises to keep.  A vow thru it all.  I just think, cheating doesn't just happen, it is a series of things that lead up to it.  It is his/her responsibility as a husband/wife to do what is right.  They make a choice and I feel they should have to deal with it.  Just my opinion.... :)

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  • Nope, there's no way that my marriage would survive infidelity.  It wouldn't matter if it was one night or an affair - the disrespect and carelessness that cheating shows is an absolute dealbreaker to me.  Cheating isn't a mistake, unless you think that people can't control themselves or their behavior.  Cheating is a conscious decision that someone makes.  And a man who would consciously decide to disrespect me and the vows we took doesn't deserve my love or my forgiveness.  My trust would be destroyed, there would be nothing to "work" to save anymore.  And I'd rather my kids grow up with a strong woman as a role model, one who sticks up for herself and refuses to be treated with such disregard by someone who is supposed to love her. 

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  • No way, there would be no trust.

  • It would depend on the cheater. Is he remorseful? Does he seem like he's willing to do whatever it takes to fix it? I know that sometimes cheating is a symptom of a problem in the marriage, is the cheater willing to assume their role in the problems in the marriage?
    My XH cheated, and it got him kicked out of the Navy. Rather than work to regain my trust, he preferred to sweep it under the carpet, and actually got mad that I was mad at him 6 months later. Before his actions showed that he didn't accept blame for it, I figured we could work it out. He wasn't interested in any of the heavy work required, which spelled the end for me. I can't say for sure that my marriage would definitely be over, but for us to have any kind of chance to get past it and stay together, he better be willing, at the least, to kiss my ass for a while.
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