Elizabeth Edwards leaves a rich legacy to other betrayed wives

Elizabeth Edwards has died. Yet this outspoken, loyal and loving betrayed wife leaves a rich legacy for other wives who are, or may become victims of infidelity.

Elizabeth Edwards book, Resilience, calls attention to certain aspects of infidelity that often go unnoticed or ignored, and provides valuable insight into infidelity for other wives dealing with their husbands’ extramarital affairs.

View slideshow: Elizabeth Edwards - a Loyal, Loving Wife

The Voice of the Betrayed Wife

When a politician cheats, his betrayed wife often suffers in silence. Despite the very public display of the couple’s private affairs, the betrayed wife's voice is seldom heard.

Most of the media attention is usually focused on the cheating mate.

Elizabeth Edwards book, Resilience, gave us a glimpse of infidelity from the betrayed wife’s point of view.

And while other episodes of infidelity may not be as high profile as the John Edwards – Rielle Hunter affair, there are millions of female infidelity victims who can relate to Elizabeth Edwards’ situation.

Elizabeth Edwards became the voice for those 38 to 53 million women with cheating mates.

Elizabeth’s book provides valuable insight for betrayed wives, many of whom who are dealing with infidelity for the first time in their lives and have no idea of the emotional and physical toll infidelity takes. Resilience can help prepare these women for the emotional and physical upheaval to come.

Lessons Learned from Elizabeth Experiences with John’s affair

There are three things in particular that Elizabeth Edwards experienced in dealing her husband’s affair, from which other betrayed wives can learn. For details see Insights on Infidelity Gained from Elizabeth Edwards’ Book, Resilience

Elizabeth Edwards' experienced a physical reaction when John Edwards told her of his affair
Elizabeth refused to refer to her husband's mistress by name in her book or her interviews about the John’s infidelity. See Rielle Hunter and Other Modern Day Mistresses Who Ruined Their Lover’s Lives
John Edwards did not tell Elizabeth the whole truth when he first confessed that he’d been unfaithful, and continued to lie about certain aspects of his affair. See 9 Reasons a Cheater Will Lie about His Affair and How to Get a Cheater to Tell You the Truth about His Affair

In these three experiences, there are valuable lessons to be learned.

One lesson is that other betrayed wives face similar issues in dealing with their husbands' extramarital affairs.

Many female victims of infidelity think they are the only ones experiencing these things, because they’re rarely spoken or written about.

Elizabeth Edwards is to be Commended for Speaking Out

Many people condemned Elizabeth Edwards for “airing her dirty laundry” by speaking out so candidly.

But Elizabeth Edwards deserves to be commended for speaking so openly about John Edwards’ affair, and sharing the toll John Edwards’ infidelity took on her, physically, mentally and emotionally. See What a Betrayed Wife Stands to Lose by Being the Last to Know

In doing so, Elizabeth performed a valuable service for other betrayed wives trying to cope with their husbands’ extramarital affairs. She exposed a side of infidelity that the public rarely sees – the betrayed wife’s point of view. See Elizabeth Edwards Showed Us Infidelity from the Betrayed Wife’s Point of View

And for the first time, many cheating men were forced to see and hear firsthand, the hurt, humiliation and heartbreak they inflict when they choose to be unfaithful to their mate.

The Heartbreaking Final Chapter in Elizabeth Edwards’ Book

The hardcover (original) edition of Resliience ended with Elizabeth and John Edwards still together in the aftermath of John’s affair. See Why Women Stay With Men Who Cheat

But in the paperback version of Resilience, released earlier this year, Elizabeth added an in epilogue which recounts the day she finally made the decision to divorce John:

"I knew I could no longer be John's wife. It was a sad and terrifying decision. I'd been trying to reinvent the role of wife for the last two years...each day it seemed another piece of my history chipped away...there was no peace. And at the very end of 2009, I finally gave up trying."

Like Elizabeth Edwards, many wives stay with their cheating husbands, and try to get their marriages back on track. See Rebuilding Your Marriage After He's Cheated on You - 12 Mistakes to Avoid

But all too often, like Elizabeth Edwards, in the end, many of them are forced to admit defeat. See What Ordinary Women Do When Their Husbands Cheat

In January of this year, John and Elizabeth Edwards announced that they had separated after being married for 32 years.

The announcement of their separation followed on the heels of John Edwards long overdue public admission that he was the father of Rielle Hunter’s daughter, little Quinn, who by that time was almost 2 years old.

Loyal to John Despite His Betrayal

Despite John’s betrayal, during which time she was also dealing with terminal cancer, Elizabeth remained a loving and devoted wife who continued to speak highly of her husband.

They maintained a cordial co-parenting relationship with their two school age children, and John Edwards even accompanied Elizabeth on a family trip to Japan. See Rielle Hunter Freaks Out Over John Edwards Accompanying Elizabeth Edwards To Japan

Speaking of John Edwards in her interview with Matt Lauer of the /Today Show, Elizabeth said

"I think I did marry a marvelous man. I think he changed over time. It was hard for me to see it or admit it for a very long time, but he changed. Maybe we all change over time. He's no longer the person who I married. I still admire an enormous number of things about him."

And Elizabeth emphasized how important it was to her that her children view their father in a positive light.

Though Elizabeth Edward died the day after announcing that her doctors had only given her few weeks to live, the vision of John Edwards this loyal, devoted wife and mother leaves her children with, will live on.

So will the insights on infidelity that Elizabeth Edwards leaves for other betrayed wives.

_______________________________________________________________

Ruth Houston isa New York-based infidelity expert who is frequently called on by the media to comment on high profile infidelity and popular infidelity issues in the news. She is the founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com, the author of Is He Cheating on You? - 829 Telltale Signs, and publishes the Infidelity News and Views blog. To interview infidelity expert Ruth Houston, or have her speak at your next event, call 718 592-6029 or e-mail InfidelityExpert@gmail.com

For more articles about Elizabeth Edwards, or the John Edwards – Rielle Hunter affair, visit www.CelebrityInfidelity.com , or see the list below:

Elizabeth Edwards Cut John Edwards Out of Her Will 6 Days Before She Died

Elizabeth Edwards’ 3-Pronged Plan of Revenge for John Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards Will Amended to Heap Further Revenge on John Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards Got Her Revenge on John Edwards Before She Died

As America Mourned Elizabeth Edwards, Rielle Hunter Envisioned Marrying John

Sex tape of Rielle Hunter and John Edwards worth MILLIONS

Elizabeth Edwards Showed Us Infidelity from the Betrayed Wife’s Point of View

Insights on Infidelity Gained from Elizabeth Edwards’ Book, Resilience

Rielle Hunter Freaks Out Over John Edwards Accompanying Elizabeth Edwards To Japan

Rielle Hunter and Other Modern Day Mistresses Who Ruined Their Lover’s Lives

For more articles with practical infidelity advice, visit www.NationalInfidelity.com or see the list below:

What Ordinary Women Do When Their Husbands Cheat