@kjrc,
I feel very sad that you have been through such a hard time in your marriage.
You deserve a better treatment than this...
As a woman, I could understand what exactly your wife is thinking at this moment:
She's looking for a "Connection" but she doesn't really know that a "Connection" is just a form of "Sexual Excitement"; sexual conncection has nothing to do with family love and a father's love in raising up the children. She needs some time to figure out and you can help her. (I would like to give you some tips in the end of my comment)
Before that, please understand, women tend to link "true love" to romance/excitement/sexual connection when they can't find "connection" with their husband or when sex became a dull routine. Usually, she would mistakenly told herself, "I don't love him anymore."
She's now in love with another man and she's confused because of "Sexual Connection," yes, I know it hurts, nevertheless, if you are able to forgive her misbehaviors/unfaithfulness, I can give you some tips.
(English is not my first language, please never mind if I didn't write it correctly.)
1. Stay cool and stay away, give her some time to figure out.
She needs some time to know that sexual connection will fade away soon or later no matter which man she has crushed into.
2. Focus on your work/career and leave your children to her and that man to take care
When excitement fades away and it's about time to face "reality". That man would back off and dump your wife if he's not that serious to take over your responsibilities as a good step father. Don't worry about your kids in his hands, your wife will protect her youngs more than you do.
(Let your wife has a chance to see that man's true ****-up intention.)
3. Protect your pride--you're innocent and a victim, not her!
I think she's a bit spoilt by you, so dare to put all the faults on you.
As a loving husband as you, your love for your wife is unconditional. You might not been a perfect husband for your wife but your love is true and you would do whatever to make her happy, but you might be over doing it and over down grading yourself.
You no need to allow her justifying her misbehaviors and unfaithfulness, putting all the faults on you.
4.You might want to make clear with her in your own words.
Below is just my idea for your reference:
I'm not a perfect husband and I'm willing to improve myself to make you happy because you're my beloved wife but that doesn't mean you can justify your unfaithfulness and irresponsible misbehaviors as an imature mother of our children only because I'm not a perfect husband.
You have damaged our family and all the harms you have caused to our children, you know they're going to suffer in the hurt of a broken family in the future, you should be responsible.
My idea is better don't give in and blame yourself because it's not your faults.
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You need to know that you're now confronting a woman who has lost her passion/excitement for you, if you still want to spend the rest of your life with this woman, you want to stay calm, attractive and cool.
If I were you, I would:
Don't beg her.
Don't **** her.
Don't call her.
Don't need attention from her.
Don't let her see you crying/being week.
Don't tell her you miss her.
Don't tell her you love her after she did this dumbshit on you.
Leave the kids to her and her affair to handle.
Buy a luxury car, nice clothings, or take a great trip overseas and have fun without being controlled a wife instead. Why not? Now she can't complain how you want your money to be spent. Take the advantages!!
Tell her, you're leaving for Australia, for example, and ask her to take care of the kids.
(No need to report to her where in Australia you go, how long your trip, or who goes with you, you don't want to report to her, she's not your boss...let her guess and spend time thinking about you.) If she asks, just say please take good care of the children, I will let you know when I come back. Make it really short and cool. Ignore her and stay cool, enjoy your life!
Focus on your career and achievements and be a real man... No offence, ok?
You would look more attractive being a successful man than begging her like a dog. These are things you can do to impress her. She would look at you differently and spend some time thinking about you.
When she figures out her affair is a ****-up, she would turn back to beg for your forgiveness, and that's what you want.
If she is so stubborn and blind, leaving such a good husband for a ****-up, you want to give yourself a deadline of waiting and get ready to move on meanwhile. If you really can't let go, I will think about other things to help you.
If you like my dumb suggestions please add me as your friend at
[email protected]