Reader considers going back to her cheating ex

Dear Annie: In 1996, I met a man while traveling. At the time, I was a single mom of three in a new city and state away from family. I was struggling with finances, child care and transportation.

My family and I weren’t close and had many disagreements, so I moved far away. When I arrived at my destination, this man got off with me and did not continue his journey.

Within three weeks, we were married. Shortly after that, we had full custody of his young son. We were married for 17 years. During those years, my husband did everything but beat me. He had countless affairs, didn’t always contribute financially and took no responsibility for the home or the kids.

I was the main breadwinner and took on all that was required of the home and children. The last affair he had was with a woman who I considered, as well as her husband, to be a friend. One day, she called me and said she was pregnant with his child.

She divorced her husband and pursued mine with a force. He decided to part ways with me, my children and his family. He bought them a house and married her. A year later, he called and told me the baby wasn’t his but that he was staying because he had cut ties with everyone and the child was all he had.

Fast-forward years and now he is divorcing her because she didn’t contribute in any way to the household and she was having affairs. Now he wants me back. At the end of our marriage, I became ill and went on disability. Being over 50 and on disability with medical issues is not at the top of anyone’s desires for a partner. I just don’t know what to do. I can go back to him and settle for good insurance and financial help, or I can be alone. Also, I still live far away from my family. My children live a few hours away, and I am very alone. What is your advice?

— Mulling Over My Lost Marriage Dear Mulling: Rekindling a relationship with your ex-husband would serve a means to several ends — but is that really a good reason to do so? Remember, this is the same man who broke your trust, was unfaithful to you and left you to singlehandedly build and maintain a home and life for your children. Just short of physically hurting you, he has wreaked havoc on your mental health and personal peace in every possible way.

What might seem like a tempting choice now will only turn out to be disastrous in the long run. You already know the ending to this story. I promise that being single and on your own is the less isolating and lonely choice compared to settling for a person who has proved time and again they aren’t anywhere close to being worthy of you.