Walks Like a Duck, Quacks Like a Duck:  He’s a Cheater

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I dated this man after about 8 years of knowing him. We went to college together, were only ever friends and had a lot in common. It seemed like basic mathematics that we’d be a good match. While I was basking in the idea that he was a good communicator, I absolutely overlook him COMMUNICATING to me that he had a slew of women in college and after college (or that he joked that he’d make a good pimp). I felt special (and maybe even set apart from other women) because he shared information that I thought he’d only share with the boys.

On my birthday, he went missing, and after several calls I got nothing. The excuse I got the next day was that he left his phone at home and couldn’t call.  But, when I later found home-made sex videos that he had made with other several other women, I can’t say that I was completely shocked. My mouth dropped to the floor (along with my heart)… but shocked, not completely. Only then did I start to replay the things that he said to me and his actions on a day to day basis, etc.  Then I remembered someone telling me before, “Listen to a man when he’s trying to tell you who he is.” Continue Reading →

Part II:  Hear it Straight From Them:  “Why do Men Cheat?”

“A man’s guilt extends as far as the pain he causes his lover, NOT in the actions.  If the deed never comes to light, then neither does the remorse or the incentive to not do it again.”

Instead of saturating the little space that I have with my own commentary, here’s a straight up list of the top 15 reasons why men say they cheat. What’s more important in this piece is that you all share your thoughts on their reasons.  So, leave a comment and we’ll discuss it.

In no particular order:

1. “In my opinion, I think that a lot of men are as faithful as their options. Tiger Woods the pro golfer/billionaire had access to almost any and everything he wanted, including a lot of women throwing themselves at him…hence more options.” I believe that’s why you find a lot of politicians, athletes, musicians and people with money (power) cheating more.

2. “In many ways, I think men are predisposed to cheating because of our biology. Men can reproduce far more frequently than women, so there’s this primordial impulse to spread our seed.  Women on the other hand are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have and thus far more selective in choosing a mate.”

3. “I needed something to stroke my ego and she wasn’t doing it anymore…I turned to my options.”

4. “The reasons men cheat are as varied as the women they cheat on. While no two cases are exactly alike, I think that it is safe to say that men cheat for the same reason women do: because they’re unhappy.”

5. “In my lil’ Nigerian opinion, men cheat cause they WANT TO. Period.” Continue Reading →

PART I:  All Men Cheat. Expect and Accept It

A friend of mine that I used to date off-and-on for several years, asked me to marry him. Well, kind of. He’s been in the music industry for about 20 years now and he has seen and probably done it all.  So he says to me, “There’s a reason you and I have known each other for 10 years. We can be married by next year if you can grow up and just accept that from time to time I’ll have a little bit of fun on the side. But just remember, I’ll be coming home to you.”  Not his exact words, but almost verbatim.  So, I’m thinking, really?  Aww, I feel really special! Can I really be your wife? Do you promise?  Come on.

Actually, after laughing what people close to me call my “machine gun” laugh (the kind of laughter where your entire body shakes and you could possibly be having an epileptic seizure), I said, “maybe in another life, when honesty and loyalty mean absolutely nothing to me.”

It’s great that we can both laugh about it. Because he has been so up front over the years, we’ve been able to remain friends.  Do you know why? He gave me a choice.  He told me what it is, and I opted out. My problem is when men want to keep their partners, lie, cheat and then sometimes turn it on women and our “obvious lack of understanding” about how they operate.

Should you expect your man to cheat? Maybe. Continue Reading →