Married...With Children

Yes, he was. He is. He was also older, confident, charming, all of which made him quite attractive. It took willpower to resist but resist I ultimately did because, as previously indicated, he was unavailable. I didn't want to be the "other woman", even for one night. This wasn't the first time I've been in such a situation and I'm sure it won't be the last.

I understand that people, especially those in long term committed relationships, still need to feel attractive and desired by the opposite sex so they'll often engage in a little "harmless" flirting. We're human beings and as such will, at some point in our lives, be attracted to other people. It's naive to think that your significant other will never look at another. Lookey but no touchey.

If, by all accounts, you have what others would consider a great relationship - you love, respect, understand and are attracted to one another, have similar values, communicate well, get along, all that fluff - there will nevertheless always be the risk of infidelity at some point in your relationship. Even the strongest relationships have their challenges and if you don't have a herculean bond to begin with...good luck to ya! So what is a girl to do? Some thoughts...

* Don't marry too young. This has as much to do with maturity as with experience. I personally think men should be at least 30, if not older.
* Don't marry your first and only boyfriend. It IS possible that he's The One but more often than not, somewhere down the line you'll think, "What if...?"
* Don't marry him if you've cheated on him multiple times in the past or vice versa. What foundation is that upon which to build a marriage?
* Once a cheater always a cheater? I don't know. But I wouldn't immediately get involved with someone who has done it once. More than once? Red flag.
* A partner who travels on business or spends nights away from home is not a good idea. Opportunity knocks.
* Suspicion breeds resentment. I don't condone blind trust but you can't keep your partner on a ridiculously short leash. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Sometimes there's nothing you can do. You can be the sweetest, smartest, sexiest and most successful person and it still won't matter. I guess the best you can do is to do your best...