1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: What's that time? Here? She is my free and Strawberry 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: Shirley Stibby, Shirley Strawberry was his strawberry left? Did you 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: say strawberry Shirley? Yeah, well you know who. It's just funny. 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: I'm good, I'm good, I'm good, all right? Subject can 5 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: of cheater ever change? Here's Stephen Shirley. I've been in 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: a relationship for nineteen years, but we are not married. 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: I stayed in this relationship because I do really love 8 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: my guy and we have five kids together. Since day one. 9 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: He is cheated on me, and I was young, so 10 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: I let him get away with it and hopes that 11 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 1: he would get it out of his system. While things 12 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: got worse over the years, and now he has four 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: outside kids with four other women. His family knew about 14 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: the other children, but nobody ever told me about them 15 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: until recently. He swears he has stopped the cheating, but 16 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: he is still up to his childish games. And I 17 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: heard he to another woman to his mom's house around 18 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: his family over the holidays. When I asked him about it, 19 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: he told me that I don't have the right to 20 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: question him about what he does when he's not with me. Wow. 21 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: Then he blames his behavior on my wrong doings over 22 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: the years. He found out that in the past I 23 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: would talk to other guys on the phone whenever he 24 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: and I were going through a bad spell, but I 25 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: never cheated on him. He says that I'm not a cheater. 26 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: He knows that I'm not a cheater, but he likes 27 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: to throw that up in my face. I still want 28 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: to marry this man so our children can have both 29 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: of their parents in the home. I don't want to 30 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: be with anyone else, and I have nothing left to 31 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: give anyone new. Whenever I mentioned leaving him, he acts 32 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: up and goes crazy, but he doesn't do anything to 33 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: show me that he cares. Steve, this man is thirty 34 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: seven years old now, so do you think he will 35 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: ever change and get it together. I am willing to 36 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: accept his other children and make it all work. Am 37 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: I being foolish? I need your honest advice. Wow? The 38 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: disrespect that is in this letter. I mean, you know, 39 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: there's just you know, a couple of ways to look 40 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: at this. One of the ways is the way you 41 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: want things to be, you know, the way you imagine 42 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: things to be. But this is not the relationship you're 43 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: in the relationship you're in is how things really are. 44 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: You've been with a man for nineteen years. You're not 45 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: married to this man. This man is cheated on you 46 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: for nineteen years. You have four outside children this man 47 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: does with four other women that you know about. And 48 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: then the disrespect. He's just disrespecting you. His family knew 49 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: about the other children. They disrespect you. He's taking the 50 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: children and other women around his family. That's more disrespect. 51 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 1: But you're still staying there nineteen years. You love this man. 52 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: You wanted to work out so your children can have 53 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: both the parents in the home. For what, he doesn't 54 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: respect you. He even told you you don't even have 55 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: a right to question him about what he does when 56 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: he's not with you. What you've been with this man 57 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: for nineteen years. Come on, come on, this is so 58 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: crazy to me. I mean, this man is thirty seven years. 59 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: Do you think he'll ever change? No, No, he's not 60 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: gonna change. Why should he? Well, what's the incentive to 61 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: change When he can do whatever he wants to do 62 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,519 Speaker 1: with whom he wants to do it and still come 63 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: back to you and you'll take him back. You're willing 64 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: to accept his other children and make it all work. 65 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: What incentive does he have to change and be a 66 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: better man. You're certainly not giving it to him. I mean, really, 67 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: this is a case of low self esteem here and 68 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: all of that. I mean we talk about that a 69 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: lot on this show. You're allowing him to do it, 70 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: and you have for nineteen years, So why change now, Steve. 71 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: Great answer, Shirley, really really great answer. I feel the 72 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: same way. The problem system as that. Look, I've been 73 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: in a relationship for nineteen years, not married, so he's 74 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: never planned on committing to you. You stayed in the 75 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: relationship because you really do love this guy. We have 76 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: five kids together. Since day one. He's cheated on me 77 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:24,679 Speaker 1: day one. He's cheated on you through the five kids. Now, 78 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: I let him get away with it in hopes that 79 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 1: he would get it out of his system. That ain't 80 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: high man, get it out of his system. He get 81 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 1: it out of his system. When you stop letting him 82 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: get away with it, it further ingrains in his system. 83 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: When you allow him to get away with it, you've 84 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: accepted bad behavior from him, and since he knows you's accepted, 85 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 1: he just continues to bad behavior. But you were young, 86 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: you didn't know how to do it, So I'm not 87 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: mad at I'm just telling you what happened. Well, things 88 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: got worse over the years. Of course they got worse 89 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: over the years because he's had no check and balance. 90 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: Ain't been no consequences or repercussions for none of his actions. Well, 91 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: you've got worse over the years. And now he has 92 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: four outside kids with four other women. Wait a minute, man, dude, 93 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: you haven't made nine babies. No, no, no, huh no, 94 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: four outside kids with four different women. Oh but you 95 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: mean with his other with his five children? He got 96 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: five with huh? He got four outside children with four 97 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: other women. You haven't made nine babies with five women. 98 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:45,919 Speaker 1: Come on, dog, dog, what's what's wrong with you? What 99 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: is wrong with you? And you? And you thirty seven 100 00:05:51,200 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: years old and this day and age condom ain't never what? Man? 101 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: You're just an idiot. He's an idiot. Yeah. Now his 102 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: family knew about the other children, but nobody ever told 103 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: me about them until recently. Now he swears he stopped 104 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:22,799 Speaker 1: the cheating. What after nine kids? I mean, how much child? 105 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: Suppoach what I'm at making? Though? He stopped the cheating, 106 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 1: but he's still up to his childish games. Wait a minute, 107 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 1: he swears he stopped the cheating, but he's still up 108 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: to his childish game. I already took another woman to 109 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: his mom's house around his family over the holidays. Okay, 110 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: this is woman number five. She gonna have a baby too, 111 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: because that's what he do. He didn't have four other women, 112 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 1: and far four of them got kids. Man, it's something 113 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: wrong with this dude. I'm back. When I asked him 114 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: about it, he told me I don't have the right 115 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: to question him about what he does when he's not 116 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: with me. Well, no, you can't question him, because when 117 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: he ain't with you, he making babies. This lady'd been 118 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: with this man nineteen years. They never got married. He 119 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: hadn't stayed in the relationship because she really loved the man, 120 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: and they got five kids together. But since day one, 121 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: he didn't cheat it on them. You let him get 122 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: away with it and hopes he get it out of 123 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: his system. That ain't how we get it out of 124 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: our system. We get stuff out of our system a 125 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: lot quicker when there's consequences. Checks and balances, Well, things 126 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: got worse over the years. I knew it because he 127 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: ain't got no checks in. Now he's got four outside 128 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: kids with four other women. His family knew about everything. 129 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: Blah blah, blah blah. He swears he stopped his cheating, 130 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: but he's up to his childish games. I heard he 131 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: took another woman over to his mama's house around the 132 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: family and the holidays, And when I asked him bout 133 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: he told me you don't have the right to question 134 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: him when he would you do when he's not with you, 135 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: you can't. You ain't got to question him what he's doing. 136 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: You already know they're walking around, they need pampas, they 137 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: need to ride to school, they need lunch money. You 138 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: ain't got to question him about what he's doing. He 139 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: got proof of what he doing. Now he got a 140 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: fifth woman he didn't take over to the house. Told him, 141 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: you ain't got to write the question. Then he blames 142 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: with my behavior wrongdoings over the years, said, you talk 143 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: to other guys whenever you're always going through a bad spell, 144 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: but you never cheated on it. He knows I'm not 145 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: a cheater, but he likes to throw that up in 146 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 1: my face. Here is the kicker. I still want to 147 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: marry this man so our children can have both their 148 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:48,959 Speaker 1: parents in the home. He's never home. And let me 149 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: ask you something, little girl, because I really feel badly 150 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: for you. What do you want to marry him for? 151 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: Listen to me, the whole eighteen years has been horrible 152 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: for you. Nineteen years, nine kids that you know about 153 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: five years, four other kids by four different women. But 154 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: you still want to marry him? Why so your children 155 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: can have both parents in the home. He not home 156 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 1: no how, And I don't want to be with anyone else. 157 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 1: I have nothing left to give anyone new. Whenever I 158 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: mentioned leaving him, he acts up and go crazy. Okay, 159 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: stop mentioning it. Yeah now, But he doesn't do anything 160 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 1: to show me that he cares. He doesn't. The reason 161 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: he doesn't show you that he cares is because he doesn't. 162 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: This is a self senate, ego, tistical bad person, Steve. 163 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: This man is thirty seven years old. Do you think 164 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: we will ever change and get it together? No? Why 165 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: should he listen to me? There's been no consequences. If 166 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 1: all these kids ain't got him to straighten up yet, 167 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: these nine babies that he really supposed to be paying for, 168 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: If that ain't got him to straighten up, I don't 169 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: know what you can do. I'm willing to accept his 170 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: other children and make it all work. Why you already 171 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: got five of your own? Wait a minute, you're gonna 172 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: accept his other children? What about the other mothers? It's 173 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: just for more people. They ain't just kids. These other 174 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: people got money. These kids ain't all sitting around at 175 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: the day, can't waiting on him and pick them up. 176 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: It's for other women you got to bring into your life. 177 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: And I'm willing to accept his other chiefs to make 178 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: it Am I being foolish? I think so? I don't 179 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 1: think he's going to change. I need your n he 180 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,439 Speaker 1: when he told you he wasn't through cheating you. Right 181 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: after that, your next sentence was, but he's up to 182 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: his childish ways because he's a child. This man posedly 183 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 1: grown man. Keep acting like a child. You can be 184 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: a little boy and become a father. Being a father 185 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:33,359 Speaker 1: don't make you a man. He's out there fathering children. 186 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: He ain't a daddy to know anybody can be a father. 187 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: It takes a real special man to be a daddy. 188 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: That's the answer. Can a cheatah ever change? Yes? This 189 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: one's not one of them, and she can't change him. 190 00:11:53,960 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: He enjoys cheating, he enjoys unprotected sex. He must kids. 191 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: He got nine of He thirty seven years old. He 192 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: got nine kids. Let me show you something. Y'all been 193 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 1: dating nineteen years? He thirty seven? How long? What was 194 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: he twenty two? Like like eighteen eighteen and nineteen Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 195 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: you're right shore So he was eighteen years old. This 196 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: boarding made a baby every other year. That's ridiculous of 197 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: his adult life. Every other's year he's produced to child. 198 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: So he's gotten a woman pregnant every year since and 199 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 1: every nine months coming around. This dude then produced a child. Wow, 200 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: but he takes him around his family. Yeah, I mean, 201 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: you know him. He probably got the stage any man, 202 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: they got her. He gotta have a winner bag stock, 203 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: you gotta have kitchen in there everything. Yeah, he ain't 204 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: got that little minute man, there ain't enough people there. 205 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: You got that. He didn't probably bought an old school 206 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: bus or something. You gotta have room. Guys. Look, lady, 207 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: your self esteem is is in the crapper, Like Shirley said, 208 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: You've got to pick yourself up somehow. You need some 209 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:27,439 Speaker 1: prayer and some counseling, and you need to find yourself 210 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: and find the good in you, because there's a lot 211 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: of good in you, and you could be miserable by yourself, 212 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:38,319 Speaker 1: you probably would be happier because you wouldn't have to 213 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: worry about him, worried about somebody said something one time. 214 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: Life is too short for me to be waiting on 215 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: you to act, right, Yeah, Yeah, that's too bad, man. 216 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: That's really she's sitting around waiting on him. Yeah, all right, 217 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:01,319 Speaker 1: Please email us your intus, your hots on today's Strawberry Letter. 218 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 1: It's Steve Harvey f M. You're listening to the Steve 219 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: Harvey Morning Show.