does my husband deserves another chance?

Philippines
July 2, 2008 11:12pm CST
my husband and i had a very serious problem.. it almost ruin our family.. he cheated on me many times and this time i gave up.. i returned everything including our wedding ring.. i packed his clothes and all his belongings.. and for the first time i said everything i want to say.. i told him how bad he was that he's a big pain in my life that he's not better than anyone else and have no right to hurt me the way he does and that i can live and be a better person if he leaves and he can go to hell for all i care! and it was a big release.. now also for the very first time he ask for my forgiveness.. begged me not to leave him and said this things " i wont promise you anything but i would do everything to make this marriage work " give me another chance and ill do everything you want just dont give up on me"... what do you think do i have to give him another chance? right at this moment im having mixed feelings i still love him but i have enough pain what would i do..
6 people like this
55 responses
@lynn2457 (500)
• United States
3 Jul 08
Truth, when they cheat, they never change, If you can live with this then keep him, knowing he is going to cheat on you. yes, he may be good for a little while, however, he will cheat again. Unless, he is able to accept who he is, and gets help, don't expect anything else. It is not like he does not love you. but it is like a person that beats their mate, it happens, and it continues. Good Luck and God Bless What ever you do, know all the facts, look up on the net about cheating mates, self esteem, and other things, I cannot think of off the top of my head.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Jul 08
I have to say that me and my husband used to cheat on each other. We are at the point right now where neither one has cheated in 3 years now, and I can say that I can go the rest of my life without cheating on him. I think he feels the same way.
2 people like this
@lynn2457 (500)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Then with that statement, that you know that you know, I feel that you two could make it. I know many who swing, and after a while, there is all ways one that quits, and one that continues, but to just cheat, that is totally different, You both know your hearts, and I know that biblically it says let no man separate what I have joined together. So, if by all means you can make it, the outside world is harder today, and if you two have worked out the kinks, try, if nothing else you are able to say, I tried, and it worked or did not work, and you two will know. Good luck in your decision, God bless you and yours.
@shooie (4984)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I don't agree with the statement once they cheat they won't quit. I haven't nor has my husband cheated on me but you know hun not everyone is the same. I don't know if you have had someone cheat on you or not but you can't say a peerson can't and won't stop cheating if they did it once. If they truly love the person ya I think they can and would quit. But then hey its a free country we can agree to disagree what each of us think.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
7 Jul 08
In my view, it's up to you. Just remember that old saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me." If this is is his first straying, think about forgiving him. If think about forgetting him; just my opinion.
1 person likes this
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
7 Jul 08
I meant to say "If not, think about forgetting him." My mind thought of putting not, but my fingers just didn't obey.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
3 Jul 08
No way. Most people will react like that when someone is leaving them. its the fear of change. my boyfriend and i tried to break up like 5 times. every time we did we got scared because we had been together so long, so we would stay together. but things were bad. finally we did it. They don't say "once a cheat always a cheater" for nothing. in most cases people don't change. if he's already cheated on you more than once he isn't going to stop. you don't deserve to be put through that pain any more. move on and find someone who respects you and loves you the way you deserve.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
3 Jul 08
I imagine his cheating must have been very painful for you. When you say many times, do you mean with many women? If so, you may request that he get some kind of professional help before giving him another chance. If you mean many time with the same women, then you need to address the affair and what that relationship has done to your marriage. Once again, professional help might be required. You are the injured party and only you truly know how much pain you can indure and what he must do to make it go away. Remember how good it felt to have that big release..... and then protect yourself. You deserve to feel that way and not let anyone take it away from you.
1 person likes this
7 Jul 08
Sophie, I am sorry that he did that to you. But, if they do it once, they will continue to do it. I know it is hard to let go. But you deserve not to be hurt anymore.
1 person likes this
@cdeanda2 (84)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Make him pay. I'm sorry no woman should ever tolerate your partner cheating on you or vice versa. Its unacceptable. There are really honest and good men out there who would love to have a faithful woman. Girl leave his clothes in the boxes play him a song to on his way out. If he loved you why would he sleep with so many woman and do all sorts of things with these girls. He could bring home something to you and he wouldnt care girl cause he is thinking with whats between his legs.
@cryw0lf (1302)
• United Kingdom
6 Jul 08
I was discussing your topic with my boyfriend and heres what he had to say: Don't give him another chance, if he's done it many times before then he can do it again. It gets easier each time. You deserve much better, and over time it'll get easier to forget about him and the pain he's caused you. I obviously agreed with my boyfriend (we're very alike). And you wrote he cannot promise, but he'll do everything to make it work... well, how can you tell he's telling the truth, he clearly cant promise he can make the marriage work. A cheating man is not an honest man. I think if you've given him chances before, he doesnt deserve any more. You're better off without him girl, i know the feeling.
@MsCYPRAH (394)
7 Jul 08
In a simple word: NO! The key words here is that he cheated on you 'many times'. If he had done it once or twice, we are all entitled to second chances, even third ones because no one is infallible, or without faults. But this gentleman has cheated several times and you still put up with it, even though it must have been a very painful, lonely and anxious time for you. That reinforced his actions and encouraged him to keep doing it. Your husband has not treated you with any RESPECT at all, and that is the key part of any relationship. We cannot say that we love someone and don't respect them. That would be shallow and insincere. Once respect goes, it never returns because one party or another begins to take advantage of the other, which your husband has been doing up to now. If you are not sure you are doing the right thing, always trust you instincts. It is a very powerful silent protector and you are acting according to your instincts now. You have had enough and you are doing what you should have done a long time ago, doing something about your life. Do not let self doubt take you back into the abyss. He is feeling insecure and rejected now, but as soon as he feels comfortable again, and someone else catches his eye, he will be back to square one. Only this time he will probably be even more secretive about it. It is not the cheating that should really be cause for concern between you both. That is just a major symptom, a sad consequence of the state of your relationship. What needs looking into urgently is what is wrong with your connection that he feels the constant need to cheat. It could be that he has fallen out of love with you, the attraction is no longer there, he is incapable of true commitment or he is simply a user who doesn't care about your feelings. Whatever the reason, it needs to be addressed, not just the cheating, and you need to let go. You have acted as your head and heart have dictated. Don't go back on it now. Hold your head high and move on with your life. That is the only way you will make yourself available to find someone who truly loves and cares for you. But you won't get that sitting in the same marriage. You will simply get more of the same because he will continue to please himself when the dust has settled. Your pain will simply continue and you will feel even more resentful then when he has broken his promise yet again. I will almost guarantee that! Nothing changes unless we change ourselves. By sticking with him, you are hoping he will change, but he won't. Change will only come with you. Forgive him by all means, but get a new life for you. It's time you had some real loving too and, above all, regain your self respect, even he has none for you. Good luck, but you'll be fine if you follow your instincts.
@patzel88 (3310)
• Philippines
7 Jul 08
you have to think many times in this situation, you heard him saying that he says sorry to you for the first time. that is worth enough to give him another chance but after his promise dont let him do what he wants, you have to give him a order or you are now the boss in your family.
@SusanLee (1920)
• United States
3 Jul 08
Your 20 years old...Do you really want to live like this? I married at 18, he was 19. Within 18 months he started cheating and it was a constant battle for many years. (I was married to him for 19 years) Now when I look back; I see all the years I wasted on this man. He didn't beat me, he didn't call me names, he just didn't have any concept of what being faithful to one person meant. We wont even go into the damage it does when a trust is broken like that. When I would threaten to leave, he would threaten to kill himself, he would get on his knees and pull at my clothes and beg me not to leave him, he would cry and swear he would change, he loved me, yada, yada, yada. His behavior even escalated into other repulsive acts as the years went by. If I had listened to my heart and left him right from the start it would have been much better for me and the children. Instead I listened to what everyone else said. Family, the preacher. I would ask you this, what does your instinct tell you? There is never a reason for unfaithfulness. Sometimes weird circumstances can put us in a postition to do something out of character. But if those circumstances aren't there, and a cheater cheats just for the thrill of it. Then it's time to put them down the road ASAP. You're young, you're beautiful...don't tie yourself to him any longer. He has a problem, it doesn't have to be your problem too.
@SusanLee (1920)
• United States
3 Jul 08
Also, just because you forgive him doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your life and happiness to him.
@bangwin29 (147)
• Philippines
8 Jul 08
don't think of the pain, think of the good times you had together and if the pain remains, then it's time to let go
• Philippines
3 Jul 08
how many times does he ever cheated on you?is this your first time to confront him?there are many things that you have to consider..do you have children..think about them..they sure don't want to grow up without a father..but for me..if that's the kind of father that they will grow up to..i'd rather kick him off our house.. he doesn't deserve to be a father..he needs to grow up!he should be responsible for whatever he's been doing.. and i'm telling you..it will not be the last time he will be cheating you again..he may seems changing..but i'm telling you..it runs in the man's blood..
• United States
5 Jul 08
well, i have been in the same spot. I kept giving him chance after chance and everytime i left him, he said he would stop. And we have a son together. I finally got fed up with it and i left him years ago, back in 02. Never went back since. Just because two people who have kids aren't together, doesn't mean the child(ren) has to grow up without one or the other parent. The children can have both parents in his/her life and still live a full life of happiness. But you need to do what is right for you, because if you go into a depression because of this, then how would that help any child you may have? It won't. The child picks up on things like that and then they get sad. And it is hard for some people to come out of depression. But just right down the pros and cons of your marriage with him. And then decided from there if you want to consider giving it another try. My opinion, i think he will cheat again, but that is only my opinion. Do what is right for you first. If you aren't happy, then it is just a loss for words.
• United States
3 Jul 08
Give this man, one last chance because he really loves you but he can't resist temptation, and it gets him every time. So what you could do to stop making him cheat on you and break you heart... Is to you know... show him, why he should stay with you only and love you only. Keep your relationship a little more sexier but that is only a suggestion, you must do what is right for you and (if you have any) kids... Just keep on thinking and remember to be sexier hehe... keep him wanting to love you.
@mescue (64)
• United States
6 Jul 08
I told my husband from the beginning, I won't be cheated on and I won't be hit. Not all men cheat. Why would you give your husband another chance? If he really loved you, he wouldn't have cheated the first time. If he actually told you that he won't promise you anything, he obviously doesn't understand the sanctity of marriage. Pack his bags and get yourself tested. He may have given you more than a broken heart.
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
5 Jul 08
We men are weak, even if we stray, it doesnt take away our attchment to our wives, it is a weakness as old as humanity itself-remember the biblical Solomon-he had 800 wives and he loved them all-but that is not say I enjoy this weakness in men-marriage vows must be kept by both men and women-as for your case, please give this man a chance, but most od all, understand his human weakness
@sweetdesign (5142)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I hate to say it but a leaopard never changes its spots. this is a decision you are going to have to make...can you live with his cheating ways? He said it himself when he said he could make no promises. It is just another ploy to have his cake and eat it too if you are willing to serve him his cake then stay if not then get out.
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
5 Jul 08
The question is, are you strong enough to deal with another pain that he might caused? If you feel like it, go for it. Another change. But if you just feel like sick of it and "oh please "not again thing" pops up to your heart and head, then don't makes another mistake. Enough
@ghatozkat (153)
• Nepal
5 Jul 08
Rip his thing off, and go get yourself another man.
• India
6 Jul 08
He should be taught lesson. Apart from leaving him you should have slapped him and shunted out from the home. You should not have packed up yourself rather made him to leave. manjeet harjai
• United States
6 Jul 08
you should do what your heart tells you to do. Even if he has asked for one more chance doen't mean that you have to give it. You need to sit down and think about things before you give an answer but go with what your heart wants. Maybe try some consoling or threapy together if you want it to work out.