"I married my high-school sweetheart after we both had experienced bad first marriages. We were true soulmates, married for eight years. We had a nice rural home with property and horses. I had started out as a social drinker, but I let it get the best of me and had an affair. I confessed the affair to my wife, who assured me we could get through it by getting counseling and help for my drinking, which I admitted at the time"
"as a result of feeling unfulfilled, I ended up cheating on her with a woman who 'totally understood me.' I divorced my wife for this woman, and even left the state to be with her, leaving two beautiful daughters behind. "(Note: I paid child support, and we had regular visits, so while I left them, I didn't abandon them - not that I'm justifying what I did.) I was in love! We were in love! We got married and had two children of our own.""
Older adults express lasting regret after divorces driven by affairs, addiction, and unmet expectations. Confessions of infidelity and admissions of alcohol problems often precede separation despite offers of counseling and attempts to reconcile. Some spouses moved out or insisted on divorce due to overwhelming guilt. Others left children to pursue new relationships, then acknowledged responsibilities like child support and visitation while still feeling remorse. Remarriage and subsequent family life did not erase persistent heartache. Busyness and marital difficulties also contributed to breakdowns and later reflections of regret and loss.
Read at BuzzFeed
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