Would You Stay Married to A Man If He Cheated On You FIVE Times?

United States
May 25, 2007 7:56am CST
I am wondering. I have a friend who has been married for 25 years. They have three kids. One is full grown. The other two are teens. For the past 15 years of this marriage, it has been rocky. The husband, for all the reasons rightly and wrongly, has slept with 4 different women. Each time, the wife takes him back. She doesn't work and he makes all of the money and he is the father of her children. They are european and not american but live in america. I don't know if that matters but she is staying because she says "we are family." But most women I know would have left the man after the first or second affair. So what would you do?
4 people like this
15 responses
@Madona1 (2096)
• Gibraltar
28 May 07
I also know some women have left the men after the affairs, but also know some haven't. It depends on the individually case. One woman doesn't want to leave her man because of the children; one doesn't leave probably is because she could not satisfy her man physically due to the medical reasons; one doesn't leave because of the fame and finance...There are too many reasons that some women live to accept and forgive their men. I would say it is very sad, but this is the life that they learn to balance and adjust... As far as I am aware the most women who have left their men due to the affair do not have children or only have one or two children. Without children, it is much easier to end a marriage or relationship. Children are the priority of a family and they are the one keep a family going. About 4 days ago, I read an article pubulished on the site: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=457354&in_page_id=1879 really impressed me due to the leading character in the story telling the readers how she put up with her husband after numerous affairs. Honestly, I will not accept my man to cheat on me either.
@a_ce_e (1422)
• Philippines
26 May 07
whew! that's tough. I am still single and i don't know yet what if i am in that situation for real. Before i get married i wanna make sure, i can still be able to work and earn on my own. I believe married life are also put into test and i am expecting those unfaithfulness might occur. I should get married to a man whom i love so much. I am a kind that no matter how unfaithful he was, as long as he still want to stay with our family i will accept him, for i love him that much. I will never loose hope that someday, he will realize what he did was wrong. I know that it is martyrdom, but success of marriage relies on sufferings, patience, and strong value of preserving the family. How i wish there will be no violence involve. I want everything to be in a diplomatic way, if my husband is not happy with our marriage, i will set him free but i will still wait for him to come back. These things are already set in my mind that is why i am very choosy in having a lifetime partner to be. I have my boyfriend right now, and i am very happy to hear from him, that may God be the center of a relationship. All good thoughts are from him. I am sure he will be a good husband to be.
@Gwapako_28 (2140)
• Philippines
26 May 07
She have a strong heart and really preserve her marriage. I can imagine the pain in her heart. But i salute her being like that. IN our generation now, its seldom to stay with husband who cheats once,twice and more that. I am almost 4 years separated now because my husband cheated on me many times. I cant handle it anymore and it makes me tired.So i prepare to separate with him. Having a complete family is not easy. You need to be a hero for your kids. Stay firm and stay whole no matter how your husband trying to broke you just the sake of being together as family.
• Switzerland
26 May 07
Although it does not make sense to continue to stay with the guy even after he has repeatedly cheated on her, she might have a reason to do it. As you said, she does not work. So, she might need him more for financial stability and to take care of her family. Also, she might be of a forgiving nature. And, we do not know the reasons as to why her husband slept with different women and still wanted to get back to his family. It is much more complicated than it looks.
• United States
26 May 07
i would never take soeone back who cheated on me even ONCE. That is something i just cannot forgive. i don't know how anyone can. i don't care that he is the only one who makes money. She can go get a job. i don't care that he is the father of her kids. They can still have a father without her being with them and besides, they are old enough now to understand.
@miaolin (397)
• China
26 May 07
I can't endure such things at all,not to mention five times.One time is enough.Now that the man has betraied me,there is no pointing in staying with him.I don't think family is a execuse.To leave him away is goog for your family.If you went on enduring his such behaviour,he would be more crazy and not care about your feeling because he thinks however you will execuse him.So to leave him is the wise choice.
@tildy12 (760)
• United States
26 May 07
Thats crazy.I really dont think I could stay Married to a man who feels the need to go to other women.Its good to love your husband and be support him but this is just too much.
@inked4life (4224)
• United States
25 May 07
I'm a man and will answer the question from the other side. If my wife cheated on me ONCE she'd be out the door. I really lover her but I think it would be impossible to get over that. Every time she went out alone you'd be wondering if she was really going where she said or off to meet another man....all trust is lost at that point.
• United States
26 May 07
No not after so many times, if she really thinks like this and her husband knows it, its just an invitation for him to cheat again. If he is already used to doing this and doesn't think his wife will leave him for it he will do this over and over again! I can understand being with a man for many years, having kids with him and not having the means to support her and the kids herself. But what is this teaching the kids? I could imagine this is hurtful for everybody involved, she needs to stand up for herself, find a job, get child support from her husband and she can do it on her own! Marriage is supposed to be forever and family too, but not when a member of the family is betraying everyone. I wouldn't stay after this many times, after once I would be unhappy andthings would have to change but if he did it twice I would be packed. Good luck in this situation, talk to your friend and console her itwould be so hard.
• China
25 May 07
I am still single now. I will insist that I keep my job after getting married. And I'm sure that I will definitely leave my husband if he has one affair.
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
26 May 07
I am sure she has her reasons, and if they are financial that can be a very strong incentive. Imight stay married if the reasons were good enough, but it would be a marriage of convenience and I don't think I would be very pleasant to be aournd after the first instance of cheating. After 5 times, I would be making him worm stew for dinner and telling him it was simply haute cuisine. Yum, yum, eat up!
@creb11 (416)
• China
25 May 07
Wow I think it is depends. She should know why him cheat her. But my advice here is your friend should leave him right now.
@cassiezm (89)
• Philippines
25 May 07
Philandering once is enough...You can never trust nor respect the person again. No matter how long the relationship has been, he should always shoe respect towards your friend.
@UDDERONES (887)
• United States
25 May 07
I would not stay with a man after he cheated on me once. I know alot of people say this and until you are in the situation who knows. But I am afraid I would always questions where he was, etc. and that would be no marriage. That would only aggrivate the husband. So no I would definately not stay with him after he cheated on me five times.
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
25 May 07
I would NOT stay with him at all. After 1 time my husband would be out the door and I wouldent give him a second thought.