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I am new here, and don't want to post a novel here, so I will keep this short. We have experienced infidelity in the past and recovered. Unfortunately, I just discovered that my husband has been behaving inappropriately again - but I believe I caught it before physical infidelity.

The other night he came home late after a night out networking, which led to drinking and apparently idiotic behavior. I grabbbed his phone to charge it for him and there was a new text on the screen from a woman that said "Fantasies are healthy. I wanted you to kiss me, but I guess I'm glad you didn't." - I literally got sick right then and there.

Upon more research, I have discovered that he has given out his phone # on more than this occassion to other women (girls? - they all seem to be younger, blonde, and cute).

He is embarrassed, ashamed. He has admitted to an addiction to pride, ego, and alcohol to enable the other 2. He agrees to to go AA (all dumb decisions seem to be made while drinking), and couseling, and to do anything to save our marriage.

Since he isn't revealing his heart to anyone, nor is he physically cheating, I don't really know what category to put us in other than "broken".

The woman from the other night works at a private club that we are members of. We are friends with the owner. Do I tell him that one of his employees is behaving inappropriately with my husband? Do I tell family and friends what has been going on?


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It doesn't sound like it was an affair, just a flirtation so there is really nothing to expose. The basic problem with your husband is his playah lifestyle. Whenever a spouse hangs out in bars and has a separate leisure/social lifestyle, they tend to have affairs.

That is where I would begin: affair proof your marriage by ending your separate lives. Integrate your lifestyles and spend ALL of your leisure time together. Stay out of bars. I would also have him change phone #'s, emails, etc and start over. He should be completely transparent giving you all of his passwords.

I would also put spyware on his phone that has a GPS so you know what he is doing when you are not around.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


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Originally Posted by ree317
We have experienced infidelity in the past and recovered.

I missed this. Actually you have not recovered. Your husband STILL has no boundaries and that is the first critical step in recovery. He still lives like a playah.

Will you tell us about this affair? When? Who? Was it exposed? How long was it? Does he have any contact with the OW? Is the OW married, and if so, does her husband know?


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


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I agree - I should have said that I THOUGHT we had recovered.

The infidelity was more than 5 years ago. He is on the road a lot - infidelity was with fans. All was exposed to family and friends. Most were one-night situations. No contact since. None were married - they're almost all blonde 20-somethings, even now (I am feeling SO insecure right now about my age and attractiveness thanks to all this).

We followed all the guidelines for a while - we went through the whole MB program. Now, apparently I am the only one who is still committed to all that.

I am heartbroken because we worked so hard! And we moved, he got a new band. We got deep into our faith and heavily involved at church. This double-life shocked me! This time, I am almost certain I caught him before he ever got physical. But you can understand why I am concerned.

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Originally Posted by ree317
The infidelity was more than 5 years ago. He is on the road a lot - infidelity was with fans.

Is he STILL on the road? Is he still in a band?


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


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Yes.

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Is he willing to stop his traveling job?


FWW/BW (me)
WH
2nd M for both
Blended Family with 7 kids between us
Too much hurt and pain on both sides that my brain hurts just thinking about it all.



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Originally Posted by ree317
Yes.

There ya go! This is why one of the first steps in recovery is to change the environment that led to the affair. As long as the environment stays the same, so will his behavior.

Originally Posted by Dr Bill Harley
The plan I recommend for recovery after an affair is very specific. That's because I've found that even small deviations from that plan are usually disastrous. But when it's followed, it always works. The plan has two parts that must be implemented sequentially. The first part of the plan is for the unfaithful spouse to completely separate from the lover and eliminate the conditions that made the affair possible. The second part is for the couple to create a romantic relationship, using my Basic Concepts as a guide.

I'll describe these two parts to you in a little more detail.

The first step, complete separation from the lover and eliminating the conditions that made the affair possible, requires a complete understanding of the affair. All information regarding the affair must be revealed to the betrayed spouse, including the name of the lover, the conditions that made the affair possible (travel, internet, etc.), the details of what took place during the affair, all correspondence, and anything else that would shed light on the tragedy.

This information is important for two reasons: (1) it creates accountability and transparency, making it essentially impossible for the unfaithful spouse to continue the affair or begin a new one unnoticed, and (2) it creates trust for the betrayed spouse, providing evidence that the affair is over and a new one is unlikely to take its place. The nightmares you experience are likely to continue until you have the facts that will lead to your assurance that your husband can be trusted.

An analysis of the wayward spouse's childhood or emotional state of mind in an effort to discover why he or she would have an affair is distracting and unnecessary. It takes precious time away from finding the real solutions. I know why people have affairs: We are all wired for it. Given certain conditions, we would all do it. Given other conditions, however, none of us would do it. So the goal of the first step is to discover the conditions that made the affair possible and eliminate them.

After the first step is completed, the second step is to create a romantic relationship between you and your husband using my 10 Basic Concepts here
as your guide. While your relationship may be improving, it won't lead to a romantic relationship because you are not being transparent toward each other. Unspoken issues in a marital relationship lead to a superficiality that ruins romance.

<snip unrelated>

Infidelity is not something that can be swept under the rug. While those who have affairs want to forget about it and move on, those who are betrayed must take very specific steps before they can fully recover. In your case, those steps have not been taken, and as a result, your fear persists. I will send you a complimentary copy of my book, "Surviving an Affair," if you send me your address. It will describe these two steps to you and provide you with a roadmap toward full recovery. But the path will require full disclosure of all details.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


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He says he is willing to do anything. It breaks my heart to ask him to give up his job. But I know that it may be necessary.

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Originally Posted by ree317
He says he is willing to do anything. It breaks my heart to ask him to give up his job. But I know that it may be necessary.

If you want to stay married, that is where I would start. And if he is serious about saving your marriage, he will agree. If he won't quit his job, I would start planning on a separation because your future will be one of misery and despair unless it does change.

Any thing that comes BEFORE your marriage, like his little job, will eventually come BETWEEN you. This has proven true for you many times over. He should have a job that complements your marriage or he shouldn't have it.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


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Please read.
Traveling Jobs


FWW/BW (me)
WH
2nd M for both
Blended Family with 7 kids between us
Too much hurt and pain on both sides that my brain hurts just thinking about it all.



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Thank you for posting that!

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Originally Posted by ree317
Thank you for posting that!
Will your WH put in extraordinary precautions?


FWW/BW (me)
WH
2nd M for both
Blended Family with 7 kids between us
Too much hurt and pain on both sides that my brain hurts just thinking about it all.



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We are in talks. Unfortunately, he IS going on the road tonight and will be home Sunday. I am NOT happy about it, but I do understand that other people are dependent upon this for their income. It isn't fair for them to suffer because of his stupidity. I considered packing the kids up and going too, but I honestly just want a couple days away from him.

We are discussing cancelling the remaining tour dates for 2013 and planning out the future. Maybe the kids and I will be going on the road next year. I don't love that idea, but I guess I don't hate it either. I am really just in a state of confusion - I want to make things work, but I also just want to crawl into bed for a while.

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Ree, it is not fair or reasonable for you to suffer. I would make it a condition that he stop doing this altogether and find a new line of work. He needs to find an occupation that complements his marriage, rather than destroys it. Another reason for him to stop playing in a band is that it is a breeding ground for affairs. You will be triggered anytime he goes off to a bar to play.

I don't see how it would help your marriage to go on the road with him.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.." Theodore Roosevelt

Exposure 101


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Originally Posted by ree317
It isn't fair for them to suffer because of his stupidity.

It's a big mistake to think your WS should just have the WILLPOWER to do what's right. That's the opposite of what Dr Harley recommends when affair proofing marriages.

Instead of looking at it as stupidity, look at it this way...the conditions that exist for your H make it incredibly ripe for an affair. Dr Harley recommends avoiding ANY overnights away from your spouse - and that's in a GOOD marriage.

On top of your H having a traveling job where you two aren't able to meet each other's ENs, there is alcohol, bars and young girls throwing themselves at him. The situation would be ripe for ANYONE to have an affair.

Focus on changing the conditions = no more nights apart and no more bars.

I would not put this up for negotiation. I would tell him that you won't stay in a marriage where you won't be protected from any more affairs and this is what needs to happen.



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Originally Posted by Dr Harley
We are all wired to have an affair. We can all fall in love with someone of the opposite sex if that person meets one of our emotional needs. If you don't think it can happen to you because of your conviction or will-power, you are particularly vulnerable to an affair. And if you think your spouse would never have an affair, you are also vulnerable.

Coping with Infidelity:The End


FWW/BW (me)
WH
2nd M for both
Blended Family with 7 kids between us
Too much hurt and pain on both sides that my brain hurts just thinking about it all.




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