Elizabeth Edwards: see John as loving dad not cheating spouse

If Elizabeth Edwards is losing her battle with cancer, as the National Enquirer's headline suggests, she is leaving a loving legacy behind -- a desire for her children to see John Edwards  as a loving father and not a cheating spouse.

Although in recent interviews she admits to struggling with forgiveness  she has spoken about Quinn, her husband's lovechild and even reached out to the little girl.Reliable Source - Quoted: Elizabeth Edwards on her close-call with being a stepmom.

Here is story behind the new Enquirer story

First, the recent news article said: "The 61-year-old estranged wife of disgraced presidential candidate John Edwards made her first TV appearance in months on Sept. 17 - shocking friends and insiders by looking extremely frail.

"Elizabeth appeared on The Nate Berkus Show, seeming more gaunt - and wearing a wig."

"It's apparent she's losing her brave battle," declared a source, who was saddened by her heartbreaking decline." LAST HURRAH FOR ELIZABETH EDWARDS

The Nate Berkus Show

However, Elizabeth Edwards is trying to create a legacy for her children. Here is what Berkus said prior to the show's airing in mid-September: "You will see how it fits into Elizabeth desire to paint a positive image of the man who betrayed her and whose mistress gave birth to a love-child.

 

Berkus tells us that fans will walk away from his interview with Edwards with an admiration for her resilience. See full article at Zap2It - From Inside the Box

Keeping a positive image: loving father

Despite her estranged husband’s betrayal, Elizabeth Edwards wants her children to look on former presidential candidate John Edwards not as a cheating spouse, but a loving father.

“I have three living children for whom this is a father whom I want them to love, on whom they’re going to have to rely, perhaps if my disease takes a bad turn. It’s really important to me that they see him in a positive light,” Elizabeth Edwards: John 'no longer the person I married' | WCNC 

She even admitted to Berkus:  When John and I were trying to make it work, I was actually sort of looking forward to my role as step mom. It's hard for me to think of a child as anything but a wonderful gift. I love children; love spending time with them; I love getting things for them..." as noted by our Fort Worth Examiner today: Is healing possible when your significant other cheats

To read more about Elizabeth Edwards and John's love-child: Elizabeth Edwards embraces John's love child; infidelity and forgiveness

Trying to save a marriage instead of snooping it to death through suspicion

The take-away message here is perception -- she wants to change the perception that the public has of John Edwards as a man who was unfaithful to his wife, to a man who was a good father.

Notice that Elizabeth Edwards never uses the word "cheater" nor does she ever talk about "snooping"  to find out what was going on.  And she even talked about trying to save their marriage.  While it did not work out, making the attempt -- without malice, as did Jenny Sanford -- gives women a certain peace of mind.

Have you read these articles? 

Infidelity: 'Talk, ask, and don't snoop' says leading marriage doctor

How healthy is it to be un-divorced? Dr. Scott weighs in

Love secrets: 3 best tips for lifelong romance

Infidelity and marriage: 5 BEST tips for survival

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