Dad Raises Three Kids Alone, Rejects Ex-Wife’s Pleas To Help Raise Her Affair Child

About one in ten married women will be unfaithful at some point

No one gets married thinking it will end in divorce, but sadly, that’s the reality for nearly 50% of all couples. While many people hope that if their marriage ends, it will be a peaceful and mutual decision, the truth is far more painful for many. Infidelity is one of the top reasons why marriages break apart.

Shocking Infidelity Statistics in Marriage

According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, around 10% to 15% of married women and 20% to 25% of married men admit to having an affair during their marriage. These affairs can be either physical or emotional, but both can deeply damage the relationship.

Why Do People Cheat?

There are many reasons people cheat in a relationship. Some common ones include:

• Opportunity and temptation
• Boredom in the bedroom
• Feeling unloved or unappreciated
• Emotional disconnection from their spouse
• Negative childhood experiences or unhealthy relationship models

Sometimes, people don’t plan to cheat. They get caught in a moment or feel emotionally distant from their partner and seek attention elsewhere.

The Real Cost of Cheating in Marriage

Cheating doesn’t just hurt feelings—it has serious consequences. It can:

• Break families apart
• Lead to divorce or child custody battles
• Cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Even result in pregnancy from an affair

While some couples do try marriage counseling or family therapy to recover, the road to healing is tough—especially when a child from an affair becomes part of the situation.

Infidelity can take a huge toll on a marriage, as well as any children that are involved

The mother in this story understands one important truth: It’s not the child’s fault. She said, “They’re a little person with the same right as all of us to feel safe, loved, and secure in the world they’ve innocently been brought into.”

The father, who shared his experience online, agrees. He has no desire to punish an innocent child. But at the same time, he wants to protect himself and his own children from the pain caused by the affair. Setting healthy boundaries is part of that process.

How Affairs Affect Children’s Mental Health

According to The Law Offices of Peter Van Aulen, being exposed to marital infidelity can seriously affect a child’s well-being. Children who witness or learn about a parent’s affair may face:

• Emotional trauma and confusion
• Trust issues with parents and others
• Behavioral problems at home or school
• Poor academic performance
• Relationship struggles in adulthood
• Low self-esteem and mental health issues
• Even physical health problems due to stress

Kids are deeply affected by what happens in their homes. Learning that one parent cheated can damage their view of love and family. It’s not surprising that this father wants to protect his children from further harm by keeping distance from his ex-wife’s affair child.

A Difficult Situation Without Easy Answers

Children are innocent, but so are the kids hurt by a cheating spouse. The father is torn between emotional responsibility and practical protection. His children have made it clear they don’t want to be involved, and he’s choosing to honor their feelings.

Many readers assured the father that he didn’t do anything wrong, and he chimed in to share more background information