| Divorce is not necessarily the only way to approach | | | | share time with your spouse. It has been proven by |
| infidelity. Forgiving is another option. Your marriage | | | | many psychological studies that children benefit from |
| might survive adultery. But can you? | | | | the interaction of both parents in their life. |
| Adultery is the cause behind over 90 percent of the | | | | A visitation calendar would give you and your spouse |
| divorces in the United States. After the affair is | | | | the benefit of maintaining your relationship with your |
| discovered both spouses go into a deep emotional | | | | children, while you and your partner work on your |
| period of transition. For the betrayed spouse, marriage | | | | marital issues. You and your spouse should be able to |
| infidelity can be the catalyst for an array of emotions | | | | plan a fair visitation schedule, so that your children do |
| such as anger, shock, disbelief, depression and intense | | | | not have to go through the pain of an abrupt |
| pain. For the adulterer it can trigger guilt, shame and | | | | separation from one parent. The visitation calendar |
| remorse. The whole family is affected by adultery. | | | | should provide the opportunity for both parents to |
| Both partners and their children will go through an | | | | share equal time with the children. |
| adjustment period. | | | | When undergoing a temporary separation due to |
| One thing many behavioral researchers agree upon is | | | | infidelity, you must be able to handle your own pain |
| that you must not make any critical decisions while you | | | | while managing your children's need at the same time. |
| are still under the intense feelings of having found out | | | | A visitation schedule will give you the time you need to |
| that your spouse has cheated on you. The severity of | | | | go to counseling, therapy, and/or take any steps you |
| your pain may blur your perspective of what is best | | | | need to heal emotionally. It will also give the children the |
| for you and your children. To cope with this painful | | | | joy of keeping a relationship with their other parent. |
| situation, many professionals recommend that you give | | | | Surely there are some couples that should reconcile |
| yourself and your spouse some space. A temporary | | | | after an incident of infidelity. However, if infidelity has |
| separation will give you the time you need to cool | | | | been the norm within your marriage, then you might not |
| down and sort things out. Now what will happen to the | | | | have a marriage at all. In those cases, even though |
| children during that period of time? | | | | forgiving is recommended in order to move on, you do |
| This is one of the many situations in which a custody | | | | not necessarily have to forget. Whatever your |
| and visitation plan comes in handy. You cannot | | | | decision after your temporary separation, a visitation |
| penalize your children for your spouse's misbehaviors. | | | | calendar is an excellent tool for handling these difficult |
| After all, he or she may have been a good parent. If | | | | times. Take advantage of it. |
| that is the case, you still must allow your children to | | | | |