Marital Infidelity, A Center Of Agony
Infidelity is a painful way to break a marriage. Marriage vows promised trust and love. When infidelity breaks those vows it causes hurt and pain.
To find some of the sources of that pain, here is a case study of Sue A. And Joe R. As they work through Joe's infidelity.
Sue was the kid next door when Joe was growing up. During hi senior year, they began dating and in his junior year in college, Joe proposed. They have three children, a girl and two boys.
There were some money problems as the children grew up and Joe said he could work late to help bring more money home. The money problems did not seem to improve even though Joe was rarely home. When Sue brought this up, Joe became very angry and left the house. He did not answer phone calls for several days.
A few days later after Joe had cooled off a bit, he called Sue to apologize and admitted that he had committed marital infidelity. He had not been working late all those nights. He agreed to seek counseling and wanted to work things out.
The heartbreak for Sue is great and forgiveness seems far off. Her husband she has known since she was three has been her betrayer. This was something of which she would have never dreamed. He knew more about her than she felt she knew herself. The hurt was immeasurable.
We all love stories to end happily by surviving infidelity, however this one may end that way. These deep hurts do not go away overnight. Divorce often follows such mistrust.
Even if things work out, the mistrust will work their way to the surface again and again. One missed appointment can rapidly bring up old feelings. Joe also has changed. He may no longer be as willing to stick through the tough times that happen in any marriage.
The once strong system of support offered by friends and extended family may also be shattered. Visits may not come as often as they once did. Sue not only feels she cannot confide in Joe, but feels abandoned by friends also.
If divorce follows, children will also feel the pain. The relocation of part of the family across state lines makes parental visitation more difficult and it sometimes even stops. Children sense the tension and also feel the pain. They miss the absent parent. Contact is broken and parents also are pained.
The pain does not end at the judge's bench however. If Sue is fortunate enough to find a new partner for life, her previous husband's infidelity can also affect this new relationship. How can she ever trust again.
Joe finds that money troubles are much worse now that he is supporting two households. The price of infidelity is expensive. Trust is also an issue for Joe, as he wonders if he will ever be trusted again. Although Joe instigated the infidelity, he is not without the pain of its consequences.
- Article Word Count: 488
- |
- Total Views: 187
- |
- permalink