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#415905 07/01/02 09:53 AM
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I am sure that there is an OW in the picture but I don't know the extent of the involvment yet. We are both in our mid 40's and are not married and have no children. We have been together 10 years. I am starting a plan A.

My questions. Do I confront him? I was also planning to take a trip over the 4th but now I am worried because it will give him too much opportunity to be with the OW. Do I still go?

I'm in a state of shock and denial and I am very afriad. I need advice from those who have been here already. Thanks.

what-now

#415906 07/01/02 11:17 AM
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How do you know? Is it in your gut, have you been told by someone, do you have concrete proof? I don't want to sound like I am second guessing you, it is just that you haven't stated it. I would not confront unless you have 100% concrete evidence. Otherwise he will lie his way out of it. Going on a trip at this point may be difficult but it may also be the time for you to set a snare to get the proof you need. I just found out myself that my W of 18 years was meeting people through the internet. I was also shocked and know that I will be dealing with this for many months to come. Keep confidence in yourself and don't push too hard.

Good luck,

so tired

#415907 07/02/02 12:23 AM
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You have several options; both options might work. I was in a VERY SIMILAR situation where I suspected something was going on. I was planned to go on a week long business trip that would have basically left the two of them alone together. I was also in denial and wishing I didn't feel the way I did and my wife was manipulating the situation to play it off as "irrational jealousy" on my part.

Option 1: Go. Trust your spouse.
Option 2: Go, hire a PI to document what happens. It might be expensive, but will either prove the affair and provide you protection, or give your marriage the shock it needs to begin setting things straight.
Option 3: Don't go. I let my wife think I'd be going right up until the day of my planned departure and then told her I was so relieved I didn't have to go. Her sincere gladness at my not going is one of my glimmers of hope in all of this. I try to let it go that she still did things with him in my house just days after the fact while I was at work during the day.

In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't opt for option 1 because knowing what I know now, I know it would have made things much worse. Option 2 is looking pretty good to me. Option 3 had the effect of hiding the affair even more and dragging things out longer.

#415908 07/02/02 12:24 AM
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You have several options; both options might work. I was in a VERY SIMILAR situation where I suspected something was going on. I was planned to go on a week long business trip that would have basically left the two of them alone together. I was also in denial and wishing I didn't feel the way I did and my wife was manipulating the situation to play it off as "irrational jealousy" on my part.

Option 1: Go. Trust your spouse.
Option 2: Go, hire a PI to document what happens. It might be expensive, but will either prove the affair and provide you protection, or give your marriage the shock it needs to begin setting things straight.
Option 3: Don't go. I let my wife think I'd be going right up until the day of my planned departure and then told her I was so relieved I didn't have to go. Her sincere gladness at my not going is one of my glimmers of hope in all of this. I try to let it go that she still did things with him in my house just days after the fact while I was at work during the day.

In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't opt for option 1 because knowing what I know now, I know it would have made things much worse. Option 2 is looking pretty good to me. Option 3 had the effect of hiding the affair even more and dragging things out longer.

#415909 07/01/02 01:06 PM
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What-now,

I would try to find out for sure this is going on before you confront him. He will deny it. I have a printed out copy of the email my FWH sent the OW and he still denied it. It is their gut reaction.

Do you have to go away? Is it possible for him to go along with you? Maybe you could come back early and surprize him?

Read all you can, the following is from the www.dearpeggy.com website. She has alot of information and has been through this issue herself. Hope it helps. Go to her website and learn as much as possible.

Confronting an Affair
by Peggy Vaughan

Some people confront their partners as soon as they have any suspicion of an affair. But for most, coming to grips with their suspicions is a long struggle. Unfortunately, the possibility of an affair is so frightening to most people that they either suppress their awareness of these changes or hope that they are temporary, or insignificant, or due to some problem that will just "go away." The two primary ways of avoiding dealing with a possible affair are through rationalization or denial.

Rationalization: One of the major reasons people rationalize their early suspicions of an affair is because they don't want to believe it's true. The sense of personal shame and embarrassment that comes with entertaining the possibility that this could happen causes them to look for ways to convince themselves that their suspicions are unfounded. Most people will go to great lengths to rationalize their concerns about an affair.

Denial: At some point, rationalization fails to be sufficient to explain the behavior of a person who suspects an affair. When there is actual evidence to suggest an affair and they still fail to confront it, they have entered the stage of denial.

When to Confront:
It's important for each person to face this issue only when they're ready. There are two primary questions to ask yourself in determining whether or not you're ready:

1. Do You Really Want to Know?
A person needs to be sure they really want to know before asking if their partner is having an affair. One of the biggest drawbacks to being ready to confront the suspicions is feeling unprepared to face it if the suspicions turn out to be true.

2. Do You Feel Open to Either Staying or Leaving?
An important consideration as to whether or not a person is ready to confront their suspicions is their willingness to remain open to either staying in the relationship or leaving it. If their decision is predetermined (whether the decision is to stay or to leave), then they're not fully prepared to deal with the issue of affairs.

So the issue of confronting an affair is more than just whether or not to do it; it's also deciding when and how. Any effort to deal directly with a possible affair needs to be serious and well-planned—being prepared to insist on the truth and to deal with the potential consequences.

#415910 07/01/02 08:17 PM
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what-now,

If you could avoided don't go and snoop as Lyxa sugested but go anyway if you have to. Your trip got nothing to do with what you partner is going to do.

Welcome to MB. Learn as much as you can about MB. Go though basic concept and general welcome links. Also check up 50 signs of A. Do nothing to confront your partner until you know all the fact.

This is snooping time. Check the phone bill & cellular bill ... check the detail if you see any strange numbers that appears many times and convinient times. Match your partner whereabout w/ what he told you ... for instance, for going to gymn, you could get the list of his activity when he went there or just call the front desk to check if he is there.

good luck -RH-

#415911 07/01/02 08:43 PM
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Some may not agree with this, confront when you are ready for the worst to happen.

Some spouses when confronted will walk. You need to be ready and prepared for it. Living with the suspicions and not confronting is a horrible way to live. So is living with them cheating on you right in front of you. The very best scenario if you want your M to work is that when you confront, A will end and you will work on recovery. You need to decide where you are at emotionally and what you can live with

#415912 07/02/02 04:15 PM
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Thank you all for the replys. I have decided to go but I am going to return early (without letting him know) and hopefully gather more proof. I also got SAA and Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay. I plan on using my time away to read and figure things out.

I have been reading many posts and the site in general and am so glad that we have a place to come and share.

Take Care

#415913 07/02/02 04:56 PM
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what-now,

From the art of war ....

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not to fear the result of a hundred battles.

Learn on what you want in M then gather information. Be wise ... no LB not a word until you are ready ... 'till then be strong ... we will be around to chip in our 2¢.

Good Luck -RH-

#415914 07/05/02 06:47 PM
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Hey...its me on another computer. I did not go out of town and have definite proof of a sexual affair. I want to confront but still would like to know how others handled their situation. Did you ask them or did you say I know this is happening. I am prepared for him to leave if that's his choice. Who knows...maybe that's why he had this affair so I would leave him. what-now

#415915 07/05/02 07:29 PM
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What-now, If you are sure that he is having an affair then tell him what you know. Don't ask him, he would rather cut off his arm then tell the truth. Let me tell you the only thing good about my husbands affair was the look on his face when I told him everything I knew. Good luck.

Ellyn

#415916 07/06/02 01:36 AM
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what-now,

You know your H you have two choices that IMHO you could do:

1. ellyn sugested that, you make a private time w/ H and tell H that you know about A .... and ask what is his intentions. Of course you are betting against OW. If it is a soulmate A ... you could be heading a rough water. If it is a sexual A then you might have a chance doing this.

2. Keep it quite for now. You know only one of his card he is holding. You still have to get all his holding !!!. You need to figure out what type of A is this ... what ENs you are missing and also if there are LB'ed you need to know what all of them. Confronting H might drive him away now ... be the dummiest W, plan A ... plan A ... plan A ...

You know your H ... there is no question that you have to confront H but when and how. When you are ready. Tell what you know and stress/ask what is his intention ... w/o LB. Note: I am big on word pictures ... read the language of love and use the word pictures !!!.

Good Luck -RH-


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