I was also once, briefly, the Other Woman (in the wake of the separation, when I’d come to believe that monogamy was a total pipe dream and that I was fundamentally incapable of having a decent relationship). It was horrible, for me and for her, and I am constantly remorseful for my role in that. I’ve done everything I can to make amends.

I suppose that’s the difference. I am remorseful, my Ex is not.

I don’t feel badly for Tiger, who pursued fame and made choices and can lie in whatever bed he made. I feel awful for his wife, who must be going through hell watching the details of these infidelities play out publicly.

And having been in the situation I was in–you better believe I contributed to the problems in my marriage. Did I force him to cheat on me with the population of a small village? No, of course not. He made that choice. But I also made choices–to spy, to stay, to believe promises he didn’t mean when I knew he didn’t mean them. And I was not healthy enough to be in a healthy relationship. I didn’t know how to ask for what I wanted and needed, didn’t know how to identify it in the first place, didn’t feel entitled to trust my intutions or demand accountability or set boundaries. Knowing my role in what happened is not the same thing as accepting blame.

It hurts and it stinks, but it’s also a growth opportunity.
Maeve´s last blog ..mamas and babies

When we are little and we steal that candy bar. You see that some children, struggle with admitting they did wrong. They are afraid that the punishment will be too great for them to bear. Even though, we say, if you just tell me the truth, the punishment won’t be as bad. They don’t believe it. As they are so scared, and they will do anything to make it go away, even pretending that it never happened… Or even blaming you for their indiscretions.

There are some of us, who will lie until the bitter end, of the wrongness they committed. Some will never admit even after the consequences have befallen them.

While others, become true to themselves, and become humble. And realize the change in themselves…

Sure… Everyone who has had that one raise their hand.. anybody? No?

Yeah, these are are the rare breed. The ones who really reach down inside, escape their fears and really become who they should be.

It is irresponsible and cruel.
Travis´s last blog ..Tell Me You Love Me. Tell Me Something Romantic.

I hope that Tiger figures it out in a way that helps him understand his behavior and somehow gives comfort to his wife and children.

- Swati
Swati Bharteey´s last blog ..How I Changed My Attitude About Exercise and Eating Healthy

And this…this…is just everything. The “make it or break it.” And the very reason I cannot go back to my relationship – lack of ownership.

I agree with others that the mistake is not the defining portion of this story – it is the lesson that comes from it all. Continuing to repeat the mistake without ownership for it…well…it does say something – not EVERYTHING, but something.
StudentMama´s last blog .."You are a selfish, heartless person"

http://vermeulenblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/mind-games/

Staying up late. Chewing on the news. Like taking a band-aid off before it’s completely healed. The Tiger Woods story is not about having an affair. It’s about going away. Dealing with it. Not saying you’re sorry to all the people who looked up to you (really?) ….It’s about doing everything. Everyday. To make sure your wife knows it had NOTHING to do with her. Nothing.

Because, you were having a blast. Until you got caught.

Did I f*** up?

Absolutely.

Does that forever condemn me?

Absolutely NOT.

I have made some terrible, terrible mistakes. But I’ve done some really great things in my life too. My mistakes are part of me, but they do not define me.

What bothers me about the Tiger Woods affair(s) is that people are so quick to judge with zero personal knowledge of the situation; that people are so quick to write him off as a terrible person. And I simply don’t think that’s fair. Cheating is a terrible thing to do, but it does not negate every other redeemable quality in a person.

If any one of us was judged solely on the worst thing we’d ever done, we’d all end up at the gates of hell.

(Okay. Maybe that last point was a little dramatic, but I think you get my point.)
Martini Mom´s last blog ..Year in Review: Best Blog

You had the courage — on your blog — to come out and apologize to the people whom you’d hurt. It was very brave. Hopefully, Tiger Woods will do the same? Do you think it’s possible?
Single Mom Seeking´s last blog ..When your partner is unfaithful

Well, since I recently completed the story of my own affair on the blog, I suppose I should chime in.

First of all, I am shocked that others are shocked. Really? Tiger Woods is a human being. *GASP!*

Maybe I have a different take on this since I cheated on my husband and he subsequently cheated on me. And I know for a fact that neither of us are bad people.

Tiger’s not a bad person either. He’s been practically worshipped as a phenom since childhood. Yes, he has a wonderful, good guy image but even good people make mistakes.

But over and over again?

Yes. That too.

Our lives are drastically different than his. He has been probably handed on a gold platter just about anything he wanted. My goodness, I doubt many of us could resist such temptation when offered on a daily basis. But yes, I do believe it is possible to resist temptation…. only if you stay continuously connected to your Self. Even that is a daily challenge.

Most people don’t even know who they truly are until they’ve made mistake after mistake and learned from them and then decided never to make that mistake again. It is in those low times that we grow stronger. He’s never had to suffer much low – from what we can tell. Even if he’s not winning golf tournaments, he’s still TIGER WOODS. And we still WORSHIP him.

How can any human being live up to that pressure? And who wouldn’t feel justified in partaking all that was offered to them just because the world told them that they were entitled to it.

I don’t begrudge the guy for his mistakes. I do hope that he uncovers more of his own truth though. He’s a good person. Just like most people.
T´s last blog ..$1000 win, 7:38 a.m., & 48 lbs. later…