My Dad decided to cheat on my mum for about 3 years.
What did it teach me?
Quite a lot. I have a tonne of respect for women and will never EVER overstep my mark or pressure or do anything to a woman that would make them feel uncomfortable. Helping my mum get through it was the hardest thing in my life to date and it's made me really understand just how difficult relationships are. She sacrificed everything. A job in Australia, her A levels, a degree, her friends, her life, all for this guy, she was with him from the age of 13.
Devastated doesn't cut it and to this day I will never, ever let myself do that. I will never cheat on any girlfriend I am with, ever, no matter how tough it gets, I had an opportunity once years ago and I did the right thing then and I'd do the right thing if I was with someone today. I never want to cause that pain to anyone.
It taught me to be as open and honest as I can be, I don't really lie anymore (to anyone), I would rather give the hard truth than get caught out lieing, even if it means getting in the **** today. It's better to be honest I feel.
I think negatively it's taught me that relationships rarely work, even childhood sweethearts couldn't make it work, so I do think I criticise and worry about stuff in relationships trying to seek "perfection", when ultimately there is no such thing. Relationships are a lot of work, hard work. With giving and taking, lots of compromises and lots of tough times.
It's also probably negatively impacted me as I am constantly worried that I am settling down to early and what happens if she leaves me, how will I find someone else, so mostly impacted me physcologically.
But yeah. Divorce sucks. Relationships are ****ing tough. Marriage must be even harder.