Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?
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Coping with Infidelity Relationship recovery from the destructiveness of infidelity.

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Old 05-08-2012, 02:10 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

Over two weeks ago when I had dd#2..I told our son who is still living with us, and is age 22, briefly what his dad had been up to. H was mad because he thought it wasn't my place to tell him...well since then son has hardly been talking to his dad. He is not a great communicator to begin with..but I have doubts about what I did and if I screwed up his relationship with his dad forever.

H and I have talked to him and told him that we are in MC and trying to work on our issues...H told him that nothing physical happened with this person and it was just emails and nothing more and that he is not interested in this other person and wants to stay married.

It is kind of uncomfortable still around the house because of this...there is a big part of me that wishes I said nothing but it is too late now.
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:13 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

Im torn here because I was sucked into my parent's infidelity drama

but the truth does need to be known, your husband needs to see the consequences of his actions
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:17 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

That is what I thought as well....I mean after the first dd#1 I said nothing to son but when I discovered that he was still in contact for 6 months after dd#1..I thought I have to reveal.

I think we are doing the best thing we can do right now and that is why I mentioned to son that we are in MC..this way at least he knows that we are working on our relationship. Not just brushing it under the cover....

I wanted H to state to son that nothing physical happened with this person, as uncomfortable as that was for H, because I think that is the first thing that goes thru someones mind.

I have no idea what a 22 year old male would be thinking on this subject though involving his parents.
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:19 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

for me I went from adoring my father to despising him

you can read the 1st part of my story in my signature link
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:28 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

Why does he need to know? I think if you are working on R, these conversations need to be with all parties W, H and son. Otherwise, it seems like it is manipulative, to get the son to your side.

If you can foregive your H, your son can too. That is why it is best to keep them out of it until there is a resolution one way or the other. The son knowing can keep the H honest, but that is not a burden that should be on a child, even an adult child.
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:29 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

That is my worst fear..that our son will continue to despise his dad and look at me like I am a victim and am putting up with this.

I do wish that I had not said anything however alot of people said he has a right to know....

I think we are good with keeping the drama away from him...if we argue, etc. it is always when son is at work. Unlike your parents who pulled you into it..I don't want to do that..I guess myself and H just have to keep a united front. Hopefully with time this will pass and maybe he will be able to let it go....

Compared to two weeks ago he is a little better toward his dad..for the first week he didn't even respond when H asked him something now at least he responds..so I am thinking that some of the anger has dissipated a little.
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:40 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

Highwood~

Bear something in mind--it is not you TELLING that did the damage. It is what your hubby DID that is causing the damage between him and his son. In an effort to keep the affair "under wraps" and a secret, many disloyal spouses try to pull this one, and it's just blameshifting and deflection. What you did was "Tell the Truth" and inform your son of facts.

Now suppose that "the Truth" was that your hubby had been absolutely faithful, had blocked the OW's emails, and had rebuffed her attempts at pursuit by calling you on the phone while she was in the room. Suppose he had stood for you and your marriage and said, "Stop that stuff right now! I am dedicated to Highwood, and I intend to love her with my whole mind, body and soul"? Where would your son's relationship with his dad be? Would your son maybe respect and admire his dad? It would be different, wouldn't it? And that's because the thing that is harming their relationship is the fact that his dad not only did NOT rebuff the OW but also lied to you for 6 more months!

So don't fall for that old trick. It's bologna.
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:45 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

My uncle disclosed to the family at the dinner table that he was leaving my aunt of 25 yrs for another woman. She was blindsided. Their youngest at the time was an 17 yr old male. He hated his father after that, severed all communications and contact. He could not respect his father for treating his mother that way and decided that dad was not the type of person he wanted in his life.
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:48 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Affaircare View Post
Highwood~

Bear something in mind--it is not you TELLING that did the damage. It is what your hubby DID that is causing the damage between him and his son.


It's bologna.
This. One Thousand times this.
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:53 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

Fantastic post Affaircare.

Tell the truth , it's not for you to hide or lie about your spouse's affair. He knew what he was doing each and every day he bertrayed you.
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Old 05-08-2012, 03:00 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Affaircare View Post
Highwood~

Bear something in mind--it is not you TELLING that did the damage. It is what your hubby DID that is causing the damage between him and his son. In an effort to keep the affair "under wraps" and a secret, many disloyal spouses try to pull this one, and it's just blameshifting and deflection. What you did was "Tell the Truth" and inform your son of facts.

Now suppose that "the Truth" was that your hubby had been absolutely faithful, had blocked the OW's emails, and had rebuffed her attempts at pursuit by calling you on the phone while she was in the room. Suppose he had stood for you and your marriage and said, "Stop that stuff right now! I am dedicated to Highwood, and I intend to love her with my whole mind, body and soul"? Where would your son's relationship with his dad be? Would your son maybe respect and admire his dad? It would be different, wouldn't it? And that's because the thing that is harming their relationship is the fact that his dad not only did NOT rebuff the OW but also lied to you for 6 more months!

So don't fall for that old trick. It's bologna.
Thank you! I feel better!

That is what I would think at times..if he hadn't chose the actions he did which were:

- recontacting his EA four days after DD#1
- going out and buying another laptop to hide in his truck while knowing I was checking his main laptop in the house knowing I would never find anything
- telling me for six months stuff such as..."he was over that **** as it wasn't worth it" and "looking me in my eyes and insisting that he was not in contact with her".
- even doing a fake name in his new secret email so if I happened to discover it I would think it was a guy named Ben emailing her

Frick I am getting pissed off again....

He chose the actions and now he has to live with the reprucussions...if he had it his way him and I would be the only ones that would be aware of his indescretion...no way..there is not enough shame in that for him.

As I am writing this I think I had to do what I did....
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Old 05-08-2012, 03:14 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

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Originally Posted by highwood View Post
Thank you! I feel better!

That is what I would think at times..if he hadn't chose the actions he did which were:

- recontacting his EA four days after DD#1
- going out and buying another laptop to hide in his truck while knowing I was checking his main laptop in the house knowing I would never find anything
- telling me for six months stuff such as..."he was over that **** as it wasn't worth it" and "looking me in my eyes and insisting that he was not in contact with her".
- even doing a fake name in his new secret email so if I happened to discover it I would think it was a guy named Ben emailing her

Frick I am getting pissed off again....

He chose the actions and now he has to live with the reprucussions...if he had it his way him and I would be the only ones that would be aware of his indescretion...no way..there is not enough shame in that for him.

As I am writing this I think I had to do what I did....
Consequences. It's whats for dinner.

(well that and bologna over at AC's house )

Also, your son's reaction to his father's A should be a crowning moment in your parenting life.

He is showing class, morals and character by denouncing your H's actions and standing up for the most important woman in his life.


You.

Your H could learn a thing or three.
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Old 05-08-2012, 03:26 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

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Originally Posted by TorontoBoyWest View Post
Consequences. It's whats for dinner.

(well that and bologna over at AC's house )

Also, your son's reaction to his father's A should be a crowning moment in your parenting life.

He is showing class, morals and character by denouncing your H's actions and standing up for the most important woman in his life.


You.

Your H could learn a thing or three.
Love it...Thank you!!!
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Old 05-08-2012, 05:50 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

They'd figure it out anyway. Our kids are 18, 20 and 22 (Dday#1 was 2 years ago) and all I told them was that he had left because we had a really bad fight. They knew things weren't great before that anyway, of course, since we didn't get along well at all. Months later oldest son said he'd seen emails between hubby and I discussing what hubby did (he probably looked in my email since I don't password protect it or anything) and knew, and he of course told other son.

Daughter developed bulimia right around the time Dday#1 happened, which may or may not have resulted from all the tension and loss of her dad. She's better now since treatment but doesn't talk about it, and I don't bring it up. To this day I don't know what she knows - her counselor poo poo'd the idea of discussing it while she's in treatment.

Hubby still has to do some of his 12 steps and I am waiting to see if he brings it up with them, because I think it's his place more than mine now that we're back together.
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Old 05-08-2012, 06:15 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Default Re: Is it okay to let your adult children know what is going on?

Affaircare has it right. Again..

The decision to have an affair and to continue it was not yours.
The decision to lie to his family was not yours.

Your kids will have seen you a mess for many months and wondered what the hell is wrong with mom. You are just telling them the truth.
Cheaters hate the truth because it closes the gap between reality and their current reality which is built on lies.
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