too trusting, thank u for your very valid inputs. I meant to qualify my previous statement by saying "I've never strayed from her, UNTIL that one time." Believe me, I know I can never say that "I've never strayed from her." I mean, this whole thread is about the fact that I did stray.
My question is this. How can I guarantee to her that I will never do it again? I know in my heart that I won't. I know exactly why I did it, and the conditions that set the whole dynamics up will NEVER happen again, yet how do I convince her that I will NEVER do it again? My words are crap to her. The only thing I have left are my actions. I am not out bar-hopping, looking to date, or trying to pick anyone up. I'm absolutely not interested in anyone but her. Even sexually, I could not "perform" as a man during my little one night stand bc of the guilt of being there. Regardless, I was "there" and it was a cheating act, period.
Now, about the second child. There are two schools of thought of being selfish. She was very adamant to me from the very beginning that all she wanted was just one child, that's it. All she asked is that I love and support it when he/she comes along. I have done that much much more. I spend every waking moment that I can with my son. He is an absolute JOY and I cherish my time with him (feeding, bath time, play time, lunch / dinner etc). My w does not have an issue at all w my role as father. I make life very easy for our family. Money is no object, our maid that does ALL cleaning and ALL laundry. W does not need to work for $, but she does work when she's w/ our little boy. She only cooked dinner for me/us an average of twice a per week (sometimes more sometimes less as I travel) grocery shops when she wants.
Because life is good, she started weighing in on me for a second child. I asked if it might affect our relationship if we only had one, she looked me square in the face and said, "I don't know." She has emotionally pulled away from me ever since, and really even before.
Somebody who knows my sitch put it to me this way, He said that I married "a trophy wife" and she married "a trophy wallet." Sadly I really love her, but looking back I see how emotionally distant she's been from me. There' was nothing I could do or can do to change that, and having a second child would only put me further down the rabbit hole to a wife who loves me as a provider and father, but who "likes" me as a husband. I guess I'm clinging on the hope that she might love me for who I am, and not for what I provide. Now that I strayed, what love she had for me is gone. She gave me the ILYBNILWY speech shortly after I cheated. Heck, she didn't have to tell me, I knew that during our marriage. My problem is, I'm still IN love with her. I shake my head ruefully.


Me: 49
Her: 33
S20 mos
I have S21 and D22 from previous M
Separated on 9/05/2012
No D papers filed