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The other woman is often portrayed as getting the better end of the deal by being in an affair. Because they have no real responsibilities to their lover, it allows for the relationship to remain as passionate and intense as possible without the boring day-to-day routine 'normal' couples have to go through. But what is it really like to be the other woman? Is it all fun and games like they make it to be in the movies or does it, in fact, suck to be the mistress? To get to the bottom of the truth, we decided to do a bit of research and speak with a few women who have been through this before and some who are currently still 'the other woman'. Here are some of the most common misconceptions they often hear about being the mistress and what the reality actually looks like.
As the other woman, I only get the good parts of him and none of the bad
"The very reason you enjoy being the other woman is also the same reason you feel miserable. The fact that you only get to have parts of him also means that you will never fully get to have him as a person. Eventually you will be wanting more than what he is capable of giving and that momentary happiness will run dry as little parts of him no longer becomes enough for you. And the sad truth is you are the one getting the leftovers – while his wife in actual fact gets to have the good as well as the bad, which makes their relationship a lot more grounded than yours ever will be."
His world revolves around me
"This is untrue because the reality is, in fact, the opposite. His world will never revolve around you because it has to revolve around him, his wife and his children (if he has any) for the affair to keep going. He will always prioritize his family over you while you will always remain at the bottom of his priority list, never mind settling for second best. Realize you are only the 'meantime girl' when his wife cannot be there for him and that you will always be his 'dirty little secret' – hidden from the public. You may not feel it now but in the long run, it will take a toll on you – it always does."
He will eventually leave his partner for me
"How many times has he said to you that he will leave his wife but never actually does? A married man will never leave his wife for the mistress and some of you will have to learn this the hard way. If he really wanted to leave his wife and be with you, he would have already done it by now. Building a future with you probably also scares him more than anything because if he leaves his wife and makes it official with you then the fantasy that you both shared will become his reality. And we all know that reality was what he was escaping from in the first place when he began the affair with you."
