Photography: Momento Cativo
Being cheated on is the one thing that none of us would want to ever experience. When we love someone we hope that the person we love respects and loves us enough to not do anything to jeopardize the relationship. Unfortunately, sometimes people slip and make mistakes that end up hurting their partners. When it comes to unfaithfulness, is leaving always the best option or is it better to give your partner a second chance? Here's our two cents on infidelity - when it happens during the dating period and when it happens during marriage.
If you are still dating or in a relationship:
A lot of people might suggest in not leaving because it is only the beginning of the relationship and that you both are not "officially" committed or married to one another. However, a ring on your finger and saying "I do" does not ever truly guarantee your partner's loyalty. The dating phase is a preview of what your marriage will look and feel like. If your trust has already been broken during "the test drive" of your relationship then you really need to ask yourself whether this is something that you would be able to handle 10 years down the line. If he cannot stay loyal to you now, do not expect him to be able to stay faithful in the future. You deserve to be in a relationship with a promising future – not a bleak one. Our advice: run quickly the other way!
If you are married:
If your husband makes a mistake and cheats on you, the option to walk away from that may not be as easy as if you were still dating. When you decide to marry someone you are making a conscious decision to stay with your partner for better or for worse. The vows you both make should not be taken lightly and must come into play even when infidelity creeps in. Walking away should be the last option you take. Although the emotional aftermath after your partner has strayed is not easy, find ways to work out your marriage from the inside,together. Just as marriage is made through a conscious decision, so is forgiveness. Then talk through the issue to discover the reasons behind his infidelity. People cheat for different reasons, however, it can't be a random mistake with no motivation behind it. Once the true motivation has been found, you need to work through the issue and reach a compromise. To move forward from an affair requires hard work, from both sides, to rebuild the trust that has been destroyed.
