The internet is a new playing field when it comes to relationships.
Skip the symptoms (your wife having online friendships) and look at the cause (why does she need that type of attention?).
An internet friendship provides perfection because you deal only with text. Your mind fills in the blanks, since you have no other nonverbal clues (voice, body language, or habits.. passing gas, scratching your butt.. etc). You can walk away in the middle of a deep conversation, take care of some things and still be seen as attentive because the other person typing can't see you. You are always beautiful, witty and highly desirable, the inner you revealed.
*SCREECH*
Kids are fighting, husband is traveling, you're being treated like a walking napkin. When rummaging through your battered favorite robe pocket for a tissue to stop your reddened runny nose, you find a Milano with a bit of fuzz. It goes in your mouth after only slight perusal.
Hello.. who wouldn't want to escape? Or feel justified in taking that type of anonymous 'me' time? Not that it's right.. but it could be rationalized as not totally wrong.
It comes down to attention. And if you're talking to her (not at her), listening, being affectionate, caring for her then all the typed words in the universe are poofed.
