DEAR ABBY: I am a 44-year-old married woman with three children. My husband is a good man in many ways, but has discovered the "joys" of Internet chatrooms. I have caught him talking online in the wee hours of the morning and confronted him about it. It's demeaning to me and my children when he speaks to these "ladies" in a provocative way on the Net. He says it's all in fun.
To make a long story short, I figured out his password and found out that he has been having a pretty steamy "affair" with a young lady out West. I feel betrayed and disgusted. I feel that I've been cheated on. He will say that as long as it isn't physical, it isn't cheating.
I don't know what to do. I love my husband; we've been together for 27 years. Should I confront him with my discovery, or wait it out and hope he gets over his fascination with the forbidden? -- DISGUSTED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
DEAR DISGUSTED: Lying to you and carrying on a "steamy" online flirtation is a form of cheating. I don't blame you for feeling betrayed. If the situation were reversed, and your husband discovered you were doing this behind his back, I'm sure he wouldn't be thrilled either. By all means, confront him with what you know. You have every right to demand an end to this dishonesty. Ignoring it won't help. It's time to clear the air.