To think my friend is making a HUGE mistake and she should leave well alone.

It could work out ok - leave well alone.

10?! Do you work on the set of eastenders?!

@Psychologymam ha nope. Couldn't be further north.

I was in and out of a different school every day (only repeated a couple of times a year) and over many years.

I was friends with a couple this exact situation happened too… the cheating couple got engaged within a year and then he cheated (at there engagement party no less) and they split within 18 months. The rebound couple are still going strong 10 years later… but I do agree it was very odd and the poor kids were very confused

It could potentially work out and I'd stay out of it but I'm absolutely judging how quickly they are moving strangers in with children.

I know of a very similar situation. The OW and EX stated together for a few years but the (cheated on) couple ard still together 30 years later.

This happened to my friends parents and they all lived happily together, my friend was a bit bemused at family gatherings as the roles could become a little fuzzy, but they managed to muddle along

It’s not your life OP, just leave well alone, your advice won’t be appreciated.

I used to know a couple who got together like this, no children involved. It ended in divorce some years later but then lots of marriages do so I don't think that means much. He's dead now.

Something similar happened in my family, both couples have been together well over 30 years now, they even live on the same street and get along as friends.

I also know 2 NDN’s who swapped and lived happily next door to each other for many years and are still friends

Children would have wander between houses

This situation worked for Shania Twain....

I went to school with a girls whose parents had done this. She lived with her dad, stepsister and stepmom, and she and her step sister would go together to stay with her mum and her stepdad.

She was a massive arsehole, but I think that was coincidental.

Same.

The same happened to my Aunt , she married him and they were married for long time and blended families quite happily

I work with someone who has done this with four then youngish kids involved (2 each side).

Best friends, one couple had an affair, the other two consoled each other and hooked up. First pair married, second pair were about to marry a few years later but realised they missed their best friends. Had some sort of reconciliation and original partners were witnesses at the wedding!

Been best friends again since, holiday together and all sorts. Been married over 20 years both. Kids all now adults, all very well adjusted, regular contact with both couples and all holiday together with them often too. Seems a very happy if odd family! Colleague’s view is that they all were very fond of each other and fundamentally enjoyed each other’s company (affair bit aside!), but not matched as partners and they knew they all had a combined ambition to love the kids and do their best by them whatever which saw them through the tough times.

Same happened to teenage school friends who were best friends and that story couldn't have been more different. A lot of animosity and side taking from kids that shouldn’t have been put in that position and it still seems to play out now. Again both couples still together (kids not so much).

Bizarrely my uncle his wife and neighbour couple did a wife swap. I think it was mostly a mutual agreement though. Both wives had the same name oddly and there were various mixes of children in the end. A bit confusing, but everyone was happy and all the kids are still close. I was too young to know the details, but was mightly confused why my aunt with the same name was now a different person.

I have a feeling this or something very similar happened with my great-grandparents & it was financial - the left partners ended up moving in too save money! (They were all friends beforehand though)

A friend of mine cheated on her husband with a colleague. They eventually left their husband and wife to get together. The ex-wife and ex-husband the got together. I happened to also know the ex-wife, she was blindsided by the affair. Their relationship had become stale as they had 3 children under 5 but she thought they were OK. My friend on the other hand was married to a horrible, borderline abusive man. The ex-wife and ex-husband have now got together and I'm worried that he is just using her to get back at his ex. Some of their children have all also started playing up since it all happened, my friend talks about their new family as if it's a beautiful crazy love story and the children are all blissfully happy in their new blended family but it's very obvious that this isn't the case. They are very unsettled and confused as their parents have separated and pretty much swapped partners, moving in together really quickly.

10?! Do you work on the set of eastenders?!

It shouldn’t work, but sometimes things just do. I hope your friend has her happy ending. At least they didnt start their relationship with lies and cheating - so it already has a markedly increased chance of being successful. As trust is a cornerstone of any relationship, and how can the cheaters trust each other? They can’t in two words. At least your friend and her new dp know the pain and hurt, and are unlikely to inflict it on each other.

I would celebrate her happiness in your position, and be glad something good and positive came from the heartbreak.

Shania Twain is in similar situation and seems to be happily married to ex husband OW’s ex husband too!

I knew someone at school whose parents did this, it was worse though as the 2 sets of parents were in-laws and so the kids were cousins. Very confusing and complicated for all involved.

I am not sure how it came about (affairs?) but there were two families in my neighborhood growing up who did this. Each family had two boys, so there were four boys total and sometimes they had weekends at the other house (A and B go to Mom 1's house, C and D go to Mom2's house), and sometimes all four boys were together at one house for a weekend (A B C D all at Mom1's house). They made it work. I think it was weirder for all of us than it was for them.

@Minieggloverrr OW and her ex are furious about their relationship.

Well, they started it.

Agree.