| The decision to stay with a cheating spouse is not an | | | | be met for the relationship to work. The others are |
| easy one to make - not that the decision to walk | | | | open for discussion but you have a starting point for |
| away would be any easier to make. But, the job | | | | building a better tomorrow. |
| ahead, making the marriage work, is even more | | | | Lower your expectations. You don't have to go |
| difficult than many couples realize. This is an "all hands | | | | bottom dwelling or anything but you need to set |
| on deck" kind of deal and if you aren't both on board | | | | realistic expectations. You're probably not going to |
| then this is ultimately a sinking ship. You just don't | | | | have the "ideal" family you dreamed of while |
| realize it yet. | | | | watching favorite childhood television shows. The |
| So, what needs to happen so that your budding | | | | world has changed and so has the family. Adjust |
| romance doesn't become a different kind of Titanic | | | | your expectations to meet up with the world and be |
| journey where your love for each other goes down | | | | prepared to pitch in if you expect a house that is |
| with the ship? | | | | always tidy or meals served promptly each night at |
| First, you must both work together to make sure | | | | 6:00. You can have great expectations you just have |
| things are better this time around. Not everyone gets | | | | to be willing to pitch in to make them happen. |
| a second chance. Don't squander yours by holding on | | | | Be ready to fight for the important things but learn |
| to petty differences and arguments from the past. | | | | to let the things that really aren't all that important |
| Start over at the beginning and leave the past where | | | | go. Some couples fight for the sake of fighting and |
| it belongs - in the past. | | | | there has to be a winner. The problem is when you |
| Both of you need to make changes that are aimed | | | | fight like that - no one wins. Learn to fight fair but |
| at building a better tomorrow with fewer | | | | also learn when it's better to walk away. Letting a |
| confrontations and more fulfillment. This means you're | | | | bad fight go before it escalates is one of the most |
| going to have to open up to one another about | | | | important skills you can learn when working to make |
| what you like, dislike, want, and need in the | | | | your marriage work together after cheating. |
| relationship. The bottom line is that your needs must | | | | |