The Most Reasonable Woman in the World, "Rose," had been having an affair with a married man for three years. He wasn't living with his wife, but he still got his mail at their old house and he hadn't told his two boys about his relationship with Rose. That's where we left her eight years ago. She's back today with an update ...

"When I was The Most Reasonable Woman in the World 10 years ago, there was an illustration that accompanied the article, with me wearing a sash with flowers to boot. My issues then were my affair with a married man that eventually led to a divorce that he did nothing to expedite, and then issues with his children not knowing that I existed for a number of years.

"I resented the kid issue tremendously, but I now realize that I was being selfish. I eventually was introduced as the girlfriend to my boyfriend's son when they were middle-school aged. (When the affair began, they were 6 and 8.) Gradually, we all spent more time together, although on the nights that he had them sleep over, during the week and on weekends, I let them do their own thing.

"Once they knew I was in the picture, all of the anger and resentment I had felt were alleviated and I had no issue with their time alone, or the times when we had to change our plans at the last minute due to his kids' and ex-wife's changing schedules. My boyfriend's kids had a chance to adjust to their parents' divorce without me making things more difficult, and he was able to cook, clean, read to, pick up from school, tuck in at night, and just be there for his boys during the initial years after the divorce.

"As they got older, I spent more time around them, spending the night and being more of a household presence, although they all still had their time alone. Both kids finished in the top of their high school classes, are good kids, have always been as respectful and nice to me as you would expect given the circumstances, and are now off to college.

"I have always disagreed with your perspective that we should have been married, or forget it. I have never wanted my own children, and have never had a deep desire to even get married, so things have worked out great as they are. I'm happier than ever with our relationship and how his children have fared.

"A big part of the reason why the kids turned out so great (great from my perspective-not sure how they feel) is that my boyfriend, his ex-wife, and I were civil and compromising after the divorce with respect to the kids. No drama or nonsense. Given that this affair and its consequences had the smallest affect on my life overall compared to my boyfriend, his ex-wife and the kids, I think they, rather than me, all deserve the Most Reasonable commendation."

Readers: I'm happy to be wrong when everything turns out right.

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