Bachelor party blues

Bachelor party blues Dear Annie: I have been happily married to my husband, "Preston," for five years, and I am seven months' pregnant with our second son. This past weekend, we went to a friend's wedding. Preston attended the bachelor party, which took place at a strip club. When Preston came home, he admitted that he had allowed the girls to sit on his lap. After more questioning, he confessed that he had received two lap dances that the other guys had purchased for him. He told me that, yes, he had been aroused, but "it's a normal male reaction." I was terribly hurt by this revelation. After we talked, Preston apologized profusely and swore it would never happen again. He said he had no idea it would be so hurtful to me. I consider myself a secure, confident woman and had no problem with Preston going to the strip club and having a good time with his friends. However, I believe a lap dance crosses the line and is a form of cheating. I cannot get these images out of my head. I love my husband, and I know he loves me, but this was a huge blow to my self-esteem, and it is interfering with my ability to be intimate with Preston. Preston admitted that, had the situation been reversed, he would be plenty angry. How can I get past this? -- Sad in Southern California Dear Sad: You get past it by forgiving Preston and believing in his promise not to do it again. You have every right to be angry. Preston's behavior was hurtful and wrong, but you must stop dwelling on it if you want to put it behind you. It's too bad Preston didn't have the gumption to turn down the free lap dances in front of his friends, but one assumes there was drinking involved. Presumably this was an isolated incident of stupidity and doesn't deserve as much attention as you are giving it. Try to let it go. Dear Ann