See DKD? I totally wasn't offering you my body sexually when I asked this question last night! lololol
Good post and understood.
Am glad you and the wife have had renewed vigor injected into the relationship spectrum
And yes, I agree. Children bring another dimension to a relationship - and often, sadly, help alleviate the intimacy a couple once shared? lol
In saying that, when a relationship is not working and not right, you don't force yourself to stay for the 'kids sake' either?
I didn't have an affair. But I did leave, eventually. For my own sanity...and his.
I understand what you mean about the visitation thing...awful. Thankfully my ex is 16,000 miles away and I don't have to go through that and neither does he.
It is interesting though. Because whilst sex is not THE most important part of a relationship, when it's lacking or non-existent - everything else starts to crumble down around it. You lose the intimacy, the sense of belonging to another, the desire to continue 'belonging' to someone who's now become your 'mate' rather than your partner, lover or friend...
Most people I have spoken to about this concur - and the one's who have cheated are usually people trapped in sexless relationships or marriages....but I don't believe they cheat solely for sex. It's more than that.
It's the intimacy that they miss. The sense of being adored by another? Of being desired by another? Of being wanted by another?
And this, to some degree, I understand...